Raac: Parts of Scunthorpe General closed due to concrete

The hospital has been added to a Department of Health list of those affected by Raac

Three areas of Scunthorpe General Hospital have been closed after the discovery of potentially dangerous concrete.

The hospital is included on a list of 42 affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac).

Used in construction from the 1950s to the mid-1990s it can become "crumbly" over time and prone to collapse.

The hospital said it had taken "precautionary measures" but had not cancelled any appointments.

A spokesperson for the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG), which runs the site, said: "We can confirm we do have Raac in three areas on our Scunthorpe site."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, they added they were taking advice from specialist structural engineers and working with NHS England to manage the issue.

"While we have had to close off some areas as a precautionary measure while we undertake further investigation, no patient appointments have been cancelled as result," they added.

Scunthorpe is one of 18 hospitals added to the list of affected sites following updated guidance from the Institution of Structural Engineers.

Trusts can access a £698m national fund to support work dealing with Raac.

Keeping hospital capacity open while undertaking monitoring and mitigation work, until Raac can be removed, is in line with recommendations from the Institution of Structural Engineers.

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