Scottish health boards find potentially fatal concrete in buildings

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today urged the Scottish Government to support health boards in inspecting and fixing the use of concrete responsible for the collapse of a school roof in Kent, after research by his party found that at least four health boards have discovered the potentially fatal building material.

Further checks have still to be completed by health boards to assess its presence

Reinforced autoclaved concrete (RAAC) is a light and bubbly form of precast concrete, frequently used in public sector buildings in the UK from the mid-1950s to the mid-1990s.

On 22 February, NHS Scotland issued a safety action notice that warned RAAC planks in roofs, walls and flooring are at “risk of catastrophic structural failure”, adding that this could occur “suddenly” and “without warning” amid limited visible exposure of panels to assess their condition. The warning states that “the level of unknown risk this issue poses is unacceptable and needs an immediate response”.  

Scottish Liberal Democrat freedom of information requests now reveal that:    

• NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Grampian, NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Tayside have all uncovered the use of RAAC.  
• RAAC has been found at University Hospital Crosshouse and a building at Ninewells hospital.  
• There is currently one instance of RAAC in NHS Grampian and the health board has still to conduct 77 checks.    
• There is currently one instance of RAAC in NHS Lanarkshire at Biggar Health Centre and there are still 19 checks pending.    
• NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have identified 34 buildings which might have RAAC and need further inspection.  

Scottish Liberal Democrats previously revealed that RAAC is being used in at least 37 Scottish schools.  

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:      

“It is worrying that patients are being treated in buildings with roofs that could collapse at any moment.  The wording of the urgent safety notice could hardly be more serious.  

“Concerns about the use of this concrete have been in the public domain for years, yet many health boards still don’t know if this is what is holding their roofs up.  

“Patients and staff need to know exactly which buildings have this concrete in place. The material has been likened to chocolate aero because of the bubbles that could break and collapse at any point.  

“The Scottish Government must urgently ensure that every health board building is inspected and take swift action to remove the concrete if it is deemed unsafe.”