Evacuation training at crumbling concrete hospital

Structural issues with the roof at Hinchingbrooke Hospital were identified in 2018

Hospital staff are being trained on how to evacuate patients if there is a "significant failure" of the concrete used to build the roof.

Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) was installed on the roof at Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Cambridgeshire across 75% of the site.

However, problems with Raac have emerged in buildings where it was used.

Last month the government confirmed its commitment to replace the hospital building alongside six other hospitals across the country. Current plans aim to see the replacement hospital opening in late 2030.

Hinchingbrooke Hospital, in Huntingdon, was built in the 1980s but with materials only designed to last 30 years.

Structural issues with the concrete in the roof were identified in 2018 and since then, work has taken place to make the hospital safe.

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said it undertook surveys of the Raac panels annually to see if any remedial work, or fail-safe measures and structural interventions needed to be carried out.

A report presented to Cambridgeshire County Council at an adults and health committee meeting on Thursday also set out that staff were being trained on how to respond to any Raac problems, and on how to evacuate the hospital following "significant Raac failure".

Deborah Lee, the senior responsible officer for the Hinchingbrooke Hospital redevelopment programme, told councillors the concrete was the highest risk on the trust's risk register.

She said there was an "extensive programme of inspections" and it was ensuring the building remained safe for patients and staff.

Ms Lee explained the strategic outline business case for the new hospital had been approved, but added that there was still more work to do before construction could begin.

A timeline presented to the meeting estimated the full business case should be agreed in spring 2027, enabling procurement and construction work to start later that year.

Under current estimates, the opening date for the new hospital has been set for late 2030.