Nearly £5 million will be spent on building repairs and improvements at a Kent hospital.

Medway Maritime Hospital is to receive £4.8m from central government to repair and work planned includes installing better ventilation systems, repairing machinery and replacing its nurse call system.

The money comes from this year’s Estates Safety Fund, which pays for fixing leaky pipes and roofs, upgrades to wiring and meeting fire safety requirements.

The Gillingham hospital has faced issues relating to overcrowding and patients being treated in corridors, and this fund aims to improve the hospital’s capacity.

Across the country, more than 400 hospitals, mental health units and ambulance sites will be handed a total of £750m for repairs and new additions.

For Medway Maritime this means both internal and external fabric and fittings upgrades, as well as equipment repairs and a new call system for nurses.

The hospital is also the subject of an application, submitted to Medway Council in February, for air and water source heat pumps, plant rooms and electrical substations which aims to make it more energy efficient.

MP for Gillingham and Rainham, Naushabah Khan (Lab), said the improvements would prevent delays and waiting lists by avoiding appointment cancellations.

She said: “This is very welcome news for patients at Medway Maritime as this Labour government continues to deliver on our promise to residents in Gillingham and Rainham that we will turn the NHS around.

“Step by step, we are not only lifting the NHS off its knees with more appointments and more GPs, but helping to make it fit for the future with vital maintenance to help prevent cancelled appointments and operations.

“Lots done, and lots more to do.”

The leader of the Medway Tories, Cllr George Perfect, welcomed the funding, but said longer term more was needed.

He said: “We welcome all additional monies from government for Medway and I am pleased that further improvements at Medway Maritime Hospital have been secured through this money.

“Longer term, with the context of the emerging local plan, a plan for the future of hospital services in Medway is vital, due to the ageing hospital site.

“A new hospital is likely needed sooner rather than later."

Kevin McKenna, Sittingbourne and Sheppey’s Labour MP, also welcomed the funding.

He added: “This is part of the government’s ‘Plan for Change’, which will fix Britain’s broken public service infrastructure and reduce waiting lists.

“This goes alongside significant investment in the Community Diagnostic Centre on Sheppey and upgrades to Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital.

“We are delivering on our promises.”

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “A decade and a half of underinvestment left hospitals crumbling, with burst pipes flooding emergency departments, faulty electrical systems shutting down operating theatres, and mothers giving birth in outdated facilities that lack basic dignity.

“We are on a mission to rebuild our NHS through investment and modernisation. Patients and staff deserve to be in buildings that are safe, comfortable and fit for purpose.

“Through our Plan for Change, we will make our NHS fit for the future.”