Persistent Raac Challenges at Hospital Require Long-Term Management

Problems associated with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) are “not going to go away, ever”, according to a hospital manager. Malcolm Arnold, who serves as the estates manager for Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, indicated that Raac will require ongoing management and surveying “for the lifetime of the building”. This announcement coincides with the Hywel Dda health board’s statement that six of the hospital’s 12 wards – which previously closed over a year ago before reopening – will undergo temporary closure for re-surveying work scheduled for the end of this year. However, Andrew Carruthers, the chief operating officer for the health board, clarified that the upcoming work would “not be anything like the scale we’ve seen of the changes over the last year”. Raac, a material utilized predominantly in flat roofing but also in floors and walls from the 1950s to the 1990s, is known as a more economical substitute for conventional concrete, though it possesses inferior durability and a reduced lifespan. In the previous year, numerous structures across Wales, including schools, hospitals, and markets, were identified as containing this material. Withybush Hospital was among them, leading to the declaration of a major incident and the mandatory closure of six wards and other sections. The six wards resumed operations in April, and additional areas like outpatient clinics and kitchens have also become operational again. Departments such as physiotherapy and pharmacy are anticipated to reopen in the forthcoming weeks. Sarah Davies, a nurse employed in one of the recently reopened wards, expressed that “it feels so good to be back”. She added, “You can hear the alarms going off now. It’s just nice to have noise here.” Lea Jones, an A&E sister and clinical lead, commented that operations had “been slightly easier” following the reopening. She further noted, “But we’re going back into winter pressures now, so we always have problems this time of year anyway – it has been easier for us knowing that these wards are back open.” The health board has since announced that the affected wards will again be temporarily closed later this year, with their reopening projected for 2025. Additionally, surveys are scheduled to be carried out on ground floor areas during 2025 and 2026. Ms Davies, the nurse, characterized the situation as one step forward “two back”, yet affirmed that “it needs to be done for the safety of the building, safety of the staff, safety of the patients”. Mr. Arnold, the hospital’s estates manager, stated that the inspection constitutes “a process we need to go through”. When questioned about the hospital’s ongoing management of Raac into 2026 and subsequent years, he responded: “Absolutely.” He elaborated, “It’s something that’s not going to go away, ever. We’re going to constantly have to manage and survey the Raac on a continued basis for the lifetime of the building.” Mr. Carruthers, representing the Hywel Dda health board, asserted that the hospital has “definitely over the worst” of the Raac problem, further noting that the re-surveying efforts will “not be anything like the scale we’ve seen of the changes over the last year”. He explained, “It will be small areas of the facility that are relocating,” and emphasized that “it will be for a very short period of time”. He concluded that this is a matter the hospital must approach as “business as usual”, and “just one that we’ll have to continue monitoring and working with for the coming months and years”. The Welsh government confirmed its approval of £12.8 million for projects in Raac-affected zones at Withybush Hospital, with a spokesperson stating that “excellent progress has been made”. Beyond Withybush, substantial Raac deposits have also been identified in non-patient sections of Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny.