Teaching hospital one of 20 to have Raac removed

An Oxfordshire hospital is one of 20 across England that has had reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) removed, the government has confirmed.

The latest figures, the first for nearly a year for hospitals, show seven sites - including Churchill Hospital in Oxford - have had the substance removed in recent months.

A small amount of Raac was found on the site, which is run by Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust, in February 2024.

The chief officer for estates and facilities at the trust said at the time the hospital was "currently safe and inspected regularly".

The lightweight building material, which is a cheaper alternative to standard concrete, was widely used in public buildings between the 1960s and 1980s, and most commonly found in flat roofing but also floors and walls.

But it is less durable and lasts around 30 years. The Health and Safety Executive warned Raac was beyond its lifespan and could "collapse with little or no notice".

Concerns over its safety prompted a nationwide inspection of schools, hospitals, courtrooms and other structures, with risks identified at dozens of locations.

The government has pledged to remove Raac from every NHS building in England by 2035. A scheme was put in place in 2021 to do just that with £1.3bn allocated so far.

The Department of Health and Social Care said this year that hospitals across the NHS in England were "being upgraded at pace" to remove the potentially dangerous substance and were "receiving support to mitigate its impact", thanks to a £440m investment.

NHS England director of estates Simon Corben said they had been "working closely with trusts to manage Raac safely and ensure the continuation of services while this essential work is taking place".

A further 12 hospitals are due to have Raac removed by the end of March 2026.