Five crumbling NHS hospitals in danger of collapsing will be rebuilt under ... trends now
Five hospitals in danger of collapse because of deteriorating concrete are to be rebuilt, the government has announced.
The hospitals were all built using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) and have been deemed in such disrepair they risk the safety of staff and patients, with many needing scaffolding support to stop roof collapses.
They include Airedale in West Yorkshire, Queen Elizabeth King's Lynn in Norfolk, Hinchingbrooke in Cambridgeshire, Mid Cheshire Leighton and Surrey's Frimley Park.
They will now form part of the government's commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030, the Health Secretary revealed.
Yesterday, Steve Barclay said the Government remained committed to its 2019 manifesto pledge, with a record £20billion being spent on hospital infrastructure.
Five hospitals in danger of collapse because of deteriorating concrete are to be rebuilt, the government has announced. Pictured: Airedale General Hospital
They include Queen Elizabeth King's Lynn in Norfolk, Hinchingbrooke in Cambridgeshire (pictured), Mid Cheshire Leighton and Surrey's Frimley Park
He said: 'These five hospitals are in pressing need of repair and are being prioritised so patients and staff can benefit from major new hospital buildings, equipped with the latest technology.'
Major concerns have been raised over the future of several NHS hospitals which contain significant amounts of RAAC.
The lightweight concrete, with a limited lifespan, was used in roofs, floors and walls between the 1960s and 1980s.
Ministers say the full extent of the dangers posed has only come to light since the New Hospital Programme was announced in 2020.
