More than 250 NHS Scotland buildings thought to contain dangerous concrete

Concerns have been raised over the suspected presence of reinforced aerated autoclaved concrete (RAAC)

More than 250 NHS buildings in Scotland are thought to contain a potentially dangerous form of concrete, it has emerged.

Health bosses issued a safety action notice earlier this year over the risk posed by reinforced aerated autoclaved concrete (RAAC). It said roofs, walls and flooring made of RAAC were at "risk of catastrophic structural failure", which could occur "suddenly" and "without warning".

A desktop review has since identified 254 NHS buildings that "have two or more characteristics which are consistent with the presence of RAAC". Officials are now undertaking on-site investigations, which could take up to eight months to complete.

Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Major sites including Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, University Hospital Crosshouse in Kilmarnock and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow have been named as potentially containing RAAC. There are fears repairs could cost tens of millions of pounds.

NHS Grampian has the highest number of potentially affected buildings, at 53, followed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde with 44 and NHS Lothian with 35.

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Sandesh Gulhane said the revelation was “deeply alarming”. He said: “Hard-working NHS staff should not have to contend with an unsafe working environment on top of the other pressures caused by the SNP's dire mismanagement. They should get an immediate assurance that this issue is being tackled as a matter of urgency."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “It is worrying that patients are being treated in buildings with roofs that could collapse at any moment. It’s now almost six months since an urgent safety notice was issued. Patients and staff need to know exactly which buildings have this concrete in place.

“The Scottish Government must urgently ensure that every health board building at risk is fully inspected and put in place a fund to ensure that the concrete is swiftly removed if it is deemed unsafe.”

It came as pupils at two Edinburgh primary schools, Trinity and Cramond, were moved into temporary classrooms following the discovery of RAAC in the roofs of the buildings. Councillor Joan Grifiths, education, children and families convener for Edinburgh Council, said: “We will be replacing the affected roofs at both schools and are putting in quality temporary classroom blocks during the summer break, so learning and teaching can continue. I want to praise all the parents and staff for their support over the past few months and the various council teams who worked tirelessly to support the schools.”

RAAC is a form of precast concrete that was frequently used in public sector buildings in the UK from the mid-1950s to the mid-1990s.

The Scotsman previously told how Preston Lodge High School, in Prestonpans, closed more than 20 rooms in May amid inspections into the presence of RAAC.

The Liberal Democrats have previously called for a national fund to help authorities make buildings such as schools and hospitals safe. Addressing the issue at First Minister's Questions last month, Humza Yousaf said it was "imperative and vital" to understand the scale of the problem.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “A desktop review to assess which properties should be investigated for the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has identified that 254 buildings have two or more characteristics which are consistent with the presence of RAAC. These will now be further investigated through discovery surveys to determine whether RAAC is actually present.

“Completion of the discovery surveys, lead by NHS Scotland Assure, will provide an accurate assessment of how many, and which, of these properties contain RAAC.”