Raac: Top floor of Kettering General Hospital wing vacated

Crumbling Raac was discovered in the roof of the Rockingham wing at Kettering General Hospital

A hospital has had to move more of its services after crumbling concrete in a "critical" state was found.

Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) was discovered in the roof the Rockingham Wing of Kettering General Hospital (KGH).

Maternity services had to be moved from the ward last year, and now the entire top floor will be vacated.

Chief executive Deborah Needham said: "The safety of patients and colleagues is our number one priority".

Raac was widely used in the construction of public buildings from the 1950s to the 1990s, but its lifespan has largely expired - leading to many schools and other buildings across the UK being forced to close in recent times.

The Rockingham Wing at KGH was built in 1977 to house the maternity and gynaecology departments.

The Rockingham Wing is home to maternity and gynaecology services

KGH said surveyors had "found a number of individual Raac panels which are in a critical condition" in the roof of the wing.

It said the inspections had only been "partially completed" and further work was needed.

The hospital had "run out of additional space to move teams, patients and beds around to accommodate these vital assessments," it added.

Ms Needham said: "Our services are being moved to other appropriate areas so our teams can continue to deliver safe and effective care in the right environment."

Services on the ground floor will continue as normal, as the ceiling does not contain the material.

The hospital has contacted the relatives and loved ones of patients who have been moved.

It said assessments of the wing would continue over the next few weeks "to determine a long-term plan for remedial works".

The hospital said it meant it had "reduced bed capacity at a time of operational pressures".

Last week KGH, along with Northampton General Hospital, declared a critical incident due to a high level of admissions.