Extra £9.5m for hospital to remove unsafe concrete

The extra funding will be spent on building a new therapy services building at Harrogate District Hospital

A hospital trust has received a further £9.5m to help it remove unsafe concrete in its buildings.

A survey found 2,500 panels made from reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) at Harrogate District Hospital.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust has already received £11m and estimates it will cost £20m to remove Raac from all its buildings.

The funding will also pay for a new therapy services building at the hospital's site on Lancaster Park Road.

Raac is a lightweight material that is less durable than traditional concrete and has a life expectancy of just 30 years before it runs the risk of collapse.

It was widely used in public buildings between the 1950s and 1990s.

The first section of Harrogate District Hospital was built in 1975 during a period when Raac was used in the construction of public buildings.

The demolition of one building at the hospital is part of the trust's attempt to eradicate the material from its buildings and improve services for patients.

Matt Graham, director of strategy at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said the new building would include two new operating theatres, as well as a new ward to support the new theatres, and also enhanced X Ray, CT, MRI and Ultrasound services.

“Over the last few months we have been working to relocate the services currently occupying the building to ensure that patients’ appointments are unaffected.

"The majority of services will remain within the hospital with the exception of Podiatry and some Speech and Language Therapy Services, which will move to a new location in Harrogate."

Mr Graham added demolition work on the current building will start this month and is expected to be finished in September.

Construction of the replacement building will then begin, according to the Local Democracy Service.

“We are continuing to develop detailed plans for eradication of the remaining RAAC at Harrogate District Hospital and will be seeking further financial support from NHS England," he added.