Cole-Hamilton presses SNP on suspected dangerous concrete in maternity, radiotherapy and surgical wards

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today challenged the Deputy First Minister over the safety of patients at a series of NHS buildings suspected of containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) after a school beam previously thought to be low risk was found to be unsound.

The Scottish Government have confirmed that 254 NHS buildings are suspected of containing the dangerous concrete. As of 21 July, health boards were investigating the following numbers of buildings: Grampian (52 including 14 at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary), Greater Glasgow & Clyde (44), Lothian (35), Tayside (29 including 11 at Ninewells hospital), Highland (25), Fife (22), Lanarkshire (18), Ayrshire & Arran (10), Forth Valley (8), Borders (7) and Dumfries & Galloway (3).

The buildings under investigation include surgical wards at Falkirk Community Hospital, Glasgow Royal Alexandra Hospital and University Hospital Monklands, ante-natal and maternity wards at Aberdeen and Perth Royal Infirmary, and a radiotherapy ward in Aberdeen.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

“The list of NHS buildings being searched for the dangerous concrete RAAC includes surgical wards, a radiotherapy ward, maternity wards and major hospitals including Ninewells in the Deputy First Minister’s home city.

“There, the area of concern extends to nine and a half thousand square metres – that’s more than the size of a football pitch.

“Assumptions about what is low risk, based on looking at blueprints, are now being questioned because a school beam thought to be low risk was then found to be unsound.

“So, can the Deputy First Minister vouch for the safety of everyone going for surgery, every cancer patient and every newborn currently receiving care in a ward where this concrete is suspected to be present?"