Overview
RAAC is a lightweight, bubbly form of concrete that was often used in schools, colleges, and Hospitals from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s. It is usually found in roofs and occasionally in walls and floors. The Standing Committee on Structural Safety report issued in May 2019 highlighted the significant risk of failure of these planks https://www.cross-safety.org/sites/default/files/2019-05/failure-reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-planks.pdf
The original lifespan of the RAAC planks was 30 years and Leighton Hospital is now 50 years old. NHS England/Improvement has issued instructions requiring the removal of RAAC planks by 2030 and the Trust has plans in place to deliver this at the quickest possible rate, eliminating the risks to Health & Safety and disruption of core healthcare delivery to the population through:
- An ongoing, rolling programme of inspection of the planks which are in the Trusts roofs and internal and external wall constructions.
- Remedial and refurbishment works where required, to note that preventative measures to reduce the risk of a collapse due to RAAC plank failing can stabilise the structure but cannot reverse the damage and deterioration already present.
- The Trust is in the process of constructing a two storey Modular Decant Wards. The proposed development will provide decant accommodation, which in turn will allow the Trust to undertake essential RAAC refurbishment/ stabilisation works to existing wards, ensuring patient safety.
- Over £55m has been spent so far to support inspection and remedial works with a further £28m expected in 2023/24.
- A strategic outline case for a new hospital development has been submitted as part of HM Governments new hospitals programme. For those areas affected by RAAC, the works to replace these planks would be close to a total rebuild, with only the substructure and structural frame likely to be suitable for retention.
The Trust is in an excellent position to commence a re-building programme having already progressed architect designs of a phased rebuild on its existing land. This means that there is an externally assessed plan to redevelop the whole hospital site in phases without the need for additional sites or land to be purchased
Accelerated Inspection Process Jan-Mar 2023
In January 2023 the Trust Board decided to accelerate the inspection and repair works for the upper floor wards and clinical services, this programme commenced at the beginning of February and is expected to take around three months, depending on contractor and materials availability.
To carry out the inspections - and any remedial work - means that there will be some unavoidable disruption, including several ward and service moves. These areas are closed to patients/public during the inspection and subsequent works.
The safety of our staff and patients remains our utmost priority and we thank patients, visitors and our staff for their patience and understanding while these vital works are carried out.
Frequently asked questions
Why is RAAC such a problem?
RAAC is a lightweight, bubbly form of concrete that was often used in schools, colleges, and Hospitals from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s. In 2019 a national alert was raised about buildings that were built using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) planks.
The original lifespan of the RAAC planks was 30 years and Leighton Hospital – 60% of which is RAAC - is now 50 years old. NHS England/Improvement has issued instructions requiring the removal of RAAC planks by 2030.
What are the RAAC 5 Hospitals?
Nationally there are seven Trusts that have buildings predominately constructed of RAAC, two of which are already in the national New Hospitals Programme and Leighton Hospital is part of the remaining ‘RAAC 5’ including: Airedale, Frimley, Northwest Anglia, Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn.
What are we doing to ensure the hospital is structurally safe?
Since RAAC was first discovered, the Trust has been working with NHS England, other affected RAAC hospitals and structural engineers to ensure the right steps are taken to manage any issues to ensure the safety of our patients, visitors, and staff.
To maintain the current building, an extensive programme of planned inspections and maintenance works has been in place since 2019, with over £55m spent so far:
- An ongoing, rolling programme of inspection
- Remedial and refurbishment works where required, noting that preventative measures to reduce the risk of a collapse due to RAAC plank failing can stabilise the structure but cannot reverse the damage and deterioration already present
- A strategic outline case for a new hospital development as part of HM Governments new hospitals programme.
What does structural safety work involve?
Repairing a RAAC panel is an invasive process with noise and dust, and which cannot be done without vacating a ward or department. To carry out this work on a ward a ‘decant’ system is put in place to move beds and patients into a vacant ward to enable:
- Structural support for any panels identified as being badly deteriorated or damaged
- Putting structural support into wards and other areas to further support the RAAC panels, with the most severely damaged planks supported with structural steel or timber (or Acrow-type props in non-clinical areas)
- A rolling programme ensures that all areas where RAAC planks are identified undergo inspection, with all planks categorised and mapped for increased monitoring or remedial works according to the structural engineer’s recommendations.
A number of props have been installed in non-clinical parts of the hospital. Where access is possible repairs have already been made but in others the props remain in place until the work can be done to repair the issues.
What does this mean for staff and patients?
The safety of staff, patients and visitors is our utmost priority which is why the Trust Board has elected to accelerate this current programme of inspection and remedial works where required.
To carry out the inspection and any remedial works means that there will be some unavoidable disruption, including several ward and service moves. These areas are closed to patients/public during structural works.
We thank patients, visitors and our staff for their patience and understanding while these vital works are carried out.
What is the long-term plan to address RAAC issues?
The Trust Board formally approved a Strategic Outline Case (SOC) on the development of plans to replace buildings on the Leighton Hospital site that are constructed with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) planks in April 2022. We are continuing to discuss with NHSE how we access funding to support a full business case.
For those areas affected by RAAC, the works to replace these planks would be close to a total rebuild, with only the substructure and structural frame likely to be suitable for retention.
A New Hospital
For more information on our development plans go to this page: Leighton Hospital unveils redevelopment plans :: Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (mcht.nhs.uk)
Freedom of Information Requests
Theme 1. Applications for funding to fix RAAC related issues.
Theme 2. Details of the individual Trust buildings which contain RAAC
Theme 3. Structural reports and risk management of RAAC at the Trust
Theme 4. Structural maintence issues FOI 7264 FOI 7258
Review dates: This page was last updated on 16th March 2023
