Crumbling RAAC concrete found in Fife NHS buildings after inspections

It comes a year after the UK Government ordered the closure of more than 100 schools south of the border amid safety concerns around Crumbling Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) which has been commonly used in the construction of buildings for decades.

The ageing material was said to be at risk of crumbling, leading to the potential collapse of buildings - but NHS Fife has stressed the discovery in its buildings poses “no risk” to safety.

RAAC was found in parts of Kirkcaldy Health Centre’s main block, Lynebank Hospital’s psychology, health records and health storage, and the main building at Lynebank Hospital – all of which “require further attention”.

NHS Fife board papers confirmed that all three are under “further investigation”. Risk assessments have been undertaken and appropriate mitigations have also been put in place.

NHS Fife said Lynebank’s Tay View and Ward 12 offices, Queen Margaret Hospital’s phase one main block, Adamson Hospital’s Tarvit ward, and Glenrothes Hospital’s main block were “stable” but “require annual monitoring to ensure no deterioration of the material.” The most recent board meeting was assured that the RAAC blocks – including those “requiring further attention” – posed “no risk” to patients or staff.

“Where RAAC has been identified, it has been found to be present within parts of buildings and in some cases only specific areas within a particular block,” NHS Fife’s RAAC webpage said.

The health board added: “Of the seven blocks where RAAC has been discovered, four blocks are stable and require annual monitoring to ensure no deterioration of the material. In the remaining three areas, further investigation is required.”

RAAC has since been at the centre of national attention for the past year.

NHS Scotland – and by extension NHS Fife – has been surveying all properties to identify any containing RAAC. The work began in late 2023 and recently concluded in the Kingdom.

Neil McCormick, director of property and asset management, said: “Last year, a desk-based survey of NHS buildings across Scotland identified areas of some buildings within the NHS Fife estate which may have potentially contained reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). These areas were identified on the basis they were constructed during the period when RAAC was used regularly and included a number where the likelihood of containing RAAC was considered low,”

“More detailed independent surveys have since been carried out which confirmed that the vast majority of the areas initially identified did not contain RAAC. Where it has been identified, a programme of regular and ongoing monitoring has already commenced to ensure there is no deterioration in the material.”

Mr McCormick added: “There are a small number of areas where further investigation is required, and appropriate mitigations, including reinforcements, have been put in place where this is the case. Safety is our highest priority and there is no immediate risk to staff or patients.”

The Scottish Government is also in the process of developing guidance and a framework to provide external support for monitoring those buildings which contain RAAC.