Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (DBTH) has become the first acute NHS provider in the country to successfully eradicate reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) from its sites, as works to remove and replace roofing panels at Bassetlaw Hospital are completed.
Considered a revolutionary new building material at the time, RAAC panels were installed as a lightweight roofing solution, but recent issues have arisen in parts of the country leading to a national programme of replacement.
Following extensive surveys, it was found that the panels installed at Bassetlaw were in very good condition. However, these still had to be replaced as part of the initiative.
As such, the trust received funding of £15.944m to replace the affected roofs by early to mid-2023.
The significant replacement works, undertaken with Integrated Health Projects (IHP), have required theatres to be relocated into three temporary modular units which have been placed into the existing car park outside the site’s Clinical Therapies department, with a link corridor into the main building.
Dr Kirsty Edmondson Jones, director of innovation and infrastructure at the trust, said: “The removal of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) from Bassetlaw Hospital is a testament to our unwavering dedication to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our patients, staff, and visitors.
“I want to thank everybody involved in this project as this achievement underscores our commitment to providing the highest quality of care in buildings which are fit for purpose.”
Andy White, head of capital infrastructure, added: “We are delighted to have completed these works.
“This has been a huge undertaking and has required significant enabling works.
“In the planning of this maintenance, we have worked closely with colleagues from our emergency department, East Midlands Ambulance Service, and other key stakeholders.
“The project team has also engaged significantly with colleagues from our estates and facilities team, as well as compliance, parking, and fire safety advisors to ensure minimal impact to visitors and patients.”
- Companies:
- Sir Robert McAlpine
- Vinci
- Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
