SNP RAAC response non-existent compared to England

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has criticised the SNP for doing nothing to support health boards in dealing with RAAC, after research by his party found that the dangerous building material has been removed in scores of NHS buildings across England.

NHS England has a national RAAC programme, which delivers mitigation, safety and eradication works across all affected sites. To date, RAAC has been completely eradicated at 13 hospital sites and further sites are expected to have RAAC eradicated by the end of this financial year.

The UK Government has also committed to over £1 billion in investment to tackle RAAC in the NHS estate in England.

By contrast, in Scotland, there is no national RAAC programme or any dedicated funding support for helping NHS boards, local authorities and other public bodies tackle RAAC. This is despite more than 250 NHS buildings in Scotland being linked to RAAC.

Last month all services and patients were moved out of Knoll Community Hospital/Health Centre after an in-depth survey found the roof required remedial action “as soon as possible”.

In a parliamentary question asked by Mr Cole-Hamilton about whether the Scottish Government would be making money available to health boards, the Health Secretary stated that this would ‘have to be managed from existing budgets.’

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

“The Scottish Government have done nothing to support health boards in dealing with RAAC.

"The situation in England is far from perfect but after consistent Lib Dem campaigning at least there is now a list of hospitals which will see this material removed.

"Here in Scotland, ministers have tried to downplay the importance of the issue and refused to commit a single penny of additional spending.

“Surgical wards, a radiotherapy ward, maternity wards and major hospitals were all investigated for suspected RAAC. Just last month NHS Borders had to shut a 23-bed hospital and health centre at just a few days’ notice.

“It’s been six years since issues with this concrete were first flagged. By failing to have a detailed and meaningful plan of action, SNP ministers are putting patients and staff at risk. They are also increasing the chances of this dodgy concrete being in the estate for decades to come.

“We have seen homes, school buildings and now a community hospital evacuated. It’s high time that this government finally lifted a finger to support cash-strapped NHS boards, local authorities and other public bodies in dealing with this dangerous material.”