Safety hazards, sewage leaks and falling ceilings are major risks at hospitals after decades of under-investment and the legacy of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) in hospitals, researchers said.

The NHS is facing ‘a PFI postcode lottery' as some trusts are forced to spend up to £1 in every £6 on PFI payments, with worrying consequences for patient safety, said the IPPR think-tank.