Surveys "imminent" for six Moray NHS buildings which may have "sudden collapse" faulty RAAC concrete
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SIX Moray healthcare buildings may contain faulty concrete linked to a school's "sudden collapse" in 2018 and NHS Grampian staff have been told: "No-one needs to be concerned".
Across NHS Grampian 54 potential cases have been identified based on building age and roof style, the highest number of any Scottish health board.
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) was often used for flat-roofed buildings built between the 1950s and 1990s.
The lightweight concrete is "much weaker" than traditional concrete, according to a May 2019 safety alert, and NHS Grampian said the chance it will "fail" increases with water damage or faulty manufacturing.
Potential RAAC buildings across all Scottish health boards will be surveyed to see if the concrete was used – and whether it poses a risk.
The number of locations across Scotland which will face further investigation currently sits at 255.
Two buildings on the Dr Gray's campus are among those that will face RAAC surveys: the hospital's mortuary; and the Ward 7 building, home to the Geriatric Assessment Unit and physiotherapy.
The other Moray NHS buildings to be investigated are: Aberlour Health Centre; Elgin Health Centre (Maryhill Group Practice); Keith Health Centre; Rinnes Medical Group (Dufftown); and Seafield and Cullen Medical Group (Cullen).
Deputy chief executive Dr Adam Coldwells, speaking after yesterday's (August 3) NHS Grampian Board Meeting, said he was "sure some some of them will have it [RAAC]".
"It is really important to emphasize that they might have it – but they might not," he said.
"But I can't believe none of them have got it.
"In 54 buildings built in that period, I'm sure some of them will have it.
"I mean they just must do – mustn't they?"
An FAQ document on the NHS Grampian website also claimed it is: "highly likely we have buildings including RAAC".
During a digital staff meeting yesterday (August 3), NHS Grampian head of property and assets Gerry Donald said he was "sure we will find elements of RAAC."
"We must emphasise at this stage that we do not know whether we have RAAC in these buildings or not," he said.
"However we have 54 buildings built between the 50s and 90s that have flat roof areas, so we will be, as a precaution, surveying all of those areas.
"I stress it is a precaution.
"I am sure we will find elements of RAAC.
"We want to be sure and we want to be satisfied that, if RAAC does exist, that it is safe to continue in occupation of your area."
In documents from yesterday's board meeting, staff were encouraged to "go about your work duties as normal".
Dr Coldwells added that "no-one needs to be concerned" and that most surveys would not disrupt staff or patients.
"Our current understanding is that all of the buildings are safe to be in," he said.
"The surveys will give us the intelligence to be able to do the next steps.
"But the assurance we've got, from all of the surveyors at the moment, is that no one needs to leave the buildings.
"No one needs to be concerned."
If faulty or degraded RAAC is identified in buildings major works including rebuilding could be required, though observation may be enough, according to Dr Coldwells.
Plans to rebuild five hospitals in England contained faulty RAAC were announced in July, with Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay describing them as "in pressing need of repair".
The upcoming surveys, organised by NHS Assure and contracted to Currie and Brown, will only investigate buildings top floors unless RAAC is found, Mr Donald said.
He added that if the material was not used in the roof: "it will not be elsewhere".
Dr Coldwells said he expects surveyors to arrive next week and that the investigation start date was "immanent".
"They will survey those [buildings], and then we will clearly know what we've got to do," he said.
"Which might be tonnes of stuff or it might be very little, depending on which buildings have it and which don't.
"And how good or bad it is – whether it's deteriorating or not.
"From that, we then work with the surveyors to understand whether we need to do some remedial action now.
"Or whether we just need to check it again in a years time, in three years time, or in five years time."
Surveys on buildings where patients stay overnight will be the top priority, according to new information released yesterday by the health board.
The next-highest priority will be places where "patients are seen, but do not stay overnight."
Staff-only areas come third, above "ancilliary buildings, such as substations or boilerhouses", which are the lowest priority.
Those working in affected buildings have been contacted, Dr Coldwells said, and support has been organised for them.
"We're working hard at engaging staff in general, as well as the people who actually are in the 54 buildings on the list," he said.
"We are working with them, so they can ask questions and have the experts tell them what's happening and not to be worried."
During the staff meeting Mr Donald said staff have been asked to draw up new contingency plans ahead of the surveys, for disruption including: "taking the top floor out of a building."
Two surveys have already identified RAAC at a laboratory building in Aberdeen.
Mr Donald said suspicions were raised about RAAC after "significant water ingress" prompted roof repair works.
Two surveys confirmed the building included the material, but that it was in a "safe condition", he said, and said that roof repairs were allowed to continue.
Only an "annual review" of the material was required, Mr Donald said, "to ensure that we are satisfied that the integrity remains safe."
Along with NHS-owned buildings, a question mark hangs over GP practices not owned by the health board.
Further works are planned to figure out which of these have RAAC, though "any further action will be a matter for the building owners."
