Hospitals built with RAAC are only part of 11bn maintenance backlog

Concerns are growing over the number of hospitals which could be at risk of collapse, after an investigation found that hundreds of public buildings are built with a structurally unsound material known as reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

RAAC was widely used in the construction of public buildings between the 1960s and 80s. This type of concrete is less dense and durable than regular concrete, and it has an average life expectancy of just 30 years.

Last week, it was announced more than 100 schools were built with this weak type of concrete, and these schools have now been told to partially or fully close buildings as they are considered unsafe to teach in.

But this is thought to be only the tip of the iceberg, and investigations are now underway to discover exactly how many public buildings may be affected.

At least 41 hospital buildings built with RAAC

In 2019/20, NHS England wrote to all hospital trusts and asked them to assess their buildings for RAAC. The National Audit Office (NAO) then published a report in July, which revealed that 41 buildings at 23 hospital trusts contained the material, including seven hospitals with RAAC present throughout.

While these seven hospitals in England are safe to stay open for now, they are due to be rebuilt by 2035 as part of a wider government scheme to eradicate RAAC from the NHS entirely.

Added to this, Scottish authorities believe 250 NHS buildings across the country could have been built using RAAC.

Current maintenance backlog stands at £11 billion

NHS bosses say the RAAC issue is part of a much bigger problem facing the NHS, where the current cost of the maintenance backlog for repairs, building upgrades and new equipment stands at £11 billion and where over one in five primary care premises in England are not fit for purpose.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said the government must now commit to providing more funding to address this backlog.

“As capital spending in the NHS over the last 10 years to 2020 has been around half that of other OECD countries, it is clear this will require further and sustained attention from the government to put right,” he said.

Hospitals built with RAAC unable to deliver some types of care due to ward closures

Mr Taylor has welcomed the welcomed the government’s commitment to fully-fund and accelerate building work for the hospitals most significantly affected, but says this work will need to be carried out as a matter of urgency to ensure patient care can continue.

“The NHS has been following technical guidance from the Institution of Structural Engineers to ensure its sites that use reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete are monitored closely for any risks and that the planks are removed from these premises as quickly as possible. The identification of RAAC continues as the guidance from the Institution of Structural Engineers has been updated.

“The mitigations in place at [hospitals affected by RAAC] are affecting how much care can be delivered, for example where wards need to be closed, as well as adding to daily running costs at a time when staff are making every effort to tackle the treatment backlogs and stabilise urgent and emergency care,” he said.

Lauren Nicolle

Lauren is a qualified journalist who writes primarily across the health and social care sectors. She is passionate about exposing the injustices faced by people with a learning disability, with a particular focus on equal access to healthcare.

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