A second hospital in the North East has been found to contain crumble-prone RAAC concrete - bringing the total number of hospitals affected in the UK to 45.
James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough has today (October 19) been identified by the Department for Health and Social Care to contain failure-prone RAAC concrete.
RAAC concrete was used in construction between the 1950s and mid-1990s and has been discovered to be present in hundreds of schools and hospitals across the UK.
Read more: See full list of hospitals affected by RAAC in North East
Phil Sturdy, director of estates and facilities at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“More invasive surveys of our buildings have identified a section of RAAC in the roof of our maternity unit, in an older part of The James Cook University Hospital.
“It is classed as low risk, which means there is little sign of deterioration or damage.
“Our regular inspections will continue to make sure there is no change in its condition, and it will be removed as part of the ongoing work to eradicate RAAC from the NHS estate.
“None of our other buildings have been identified as containing RAAC.”
The crisis began at the end of August this year, prompting schools to delay the start of term and put measures in place to ensure pupil safety.
The lightweight material was just two weeks ago discovered to be present in seven blocks of another Teesside hospital; the University Hospital of North Tees
Both office and residential blocks occupied by staff at the Stockton hospital have been affected – five for offices, two for staff accommodation.
Staff have been kept informed and some have been moved to alternative accommodation while works are carried out, but ageing roofs may have to be replaced in the future.
Harrogate Hospital in North Yorkshire has also today been identified to contain RAAC.
A Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: “We understand the concerns that have been raised regarding the use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) roofing in buildings in the UK.
“We are following national IStructE guidance regarding managing the risk posed by RAAC roofing and are doing all we can to ensure that any RAAC used in our buildings does not pose any threat to the safety of our patients, staff and visitors.
“Since 2022 we have been undertaking surveys to identify areas of concern and monitor all RAAC roofing on our Trust sites. We have mitigated risks that have so far been identified through remedial work, such as providing additional structural support where it is required. This work will continue to be undertaken to address any further issues that are found.
“The Trust is part of an NHS England scheme to eradicate this form of roofing.”
Read more on the RAAC crisis:
- Golden Flatts Primary School, Hartlepool has RAAC concrete
- RAAC concrete found at University Hospital of North Tees
Hospitals affected by the RAAC crisis in the North East and North Yorkshire are:
- Harrogate Hospital
- University Hospital of North Tees
- James Cook University Hospital
Other hospitals that have newly been identified by watchdogs include Airedale General Hospital, Scarborough General Hospital and Scunthorpe General Hospital.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust have been contacted for more information.
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