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Crumbling Hospitals: NHS Faces Decade-Long Delay
16 Jan
Summary
- NHS Raac removal deadline extended to 2035.
- Seven prioritized hospital projects delayed until 2032-33.
- Over £500 million needed by 2025 to prevent structural failure.
Several UK hospitals are experiencing significant delays in upgrades due to the presence of Raac concrete, a material prone to deterioration. Torbay, Kettering, and Musgrove Park hospitals face completion dates up to ten years later than initially planned. The National Audit Office (NAO) reports that seven prioritized schemes to replace Raac will not be completed until 2032-33, posing considerable operational and clinical risks.
In the interim, hospitals like West Suffolk and Queen Elizabeth are burdened with massive maintenance bills to ensure their sites remain operational. By 2025, these seven facilities will have required over £500 million in investment to avert structural collapse. The Department of Health and Social Care is investing £1.6 billion over the next four years to eradicate Raac from all 20 identified sites by 2035.
Officials are urged to address these delays urgently, as patients cannot afford to wait a decade for essential capacity. Concerns are raised that scarce funds are being diverted to temporary fixes instead of crucial upgrades like new operating theatres and staff retention. The Department of Health and Social Care maintains that a sustainable funding plan and achievable timetable are in place.
