Amount assigned to fix RAAC in hospitals: England £685m, Scotland £0

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today accused the Scottish Government of taking big risks as it confirmed that the health boards will have to fund remedial working relating to the dangerous building material RAAC out of existing capital budgets.

Mr Cole-Hamilton initially pressed then Health Secretary Michael Matheson over how much money would be assigned to help the NHS with these issues in July 2023. Mr Matheson said that:

“NHS Scotland Assure are conducting a survey programme which will confirm how many buildings in the NHS Estate contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

“Once the extent of the programme is determined, the condition will be assessed, thereafter it will be possible to establish the management and removal plans that may be necessary. This means however, that it is not currently possible to assess what these plans might cost until the survey work is complete.”

The UK Government has committed to eradicate RAAC from the NHS by 2035 and £685m has been set aside for this purpose.

In a parliamentary question, Mr Cole-Hamilton asked whether in light of this funding, the Scottish Government would be making any money available to health boards. Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray has now responded to say that:

 “If rectification is required on RAAC within the NHS Scotland estate that will have to be managed from existing budgets.”

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

“It looks like SNP ministers are taking a big risk. Surgical wards, a radiotherapy ward, maternity wards and major hospitals were all investigated for suspected RAAC. The public have still not been told exactly where this dangerous concrete is present.

“Five years since issues with this concrete were first flagged, The SNP still don’t have a detailed and meaningful plan of action. That puts patients and staff at risk and increases the chances of this dodgy concrete being in the NHS estate for many decades.

“Ministers need to finally establish a fund that NHS boards and local authorities can tap into, allowing them to carry out the necessary works to get rid of this concrete for good. We have seen homes and school buildings evacuated. This must not happen to our NHS as well.”