Today I wrote to the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care, Steve Barclay MP, with regards to the current situation with the Royal Oldham Hospital and the identified concerns regarding the use of RAAC within elements of the roof of the building.
RAAC is a lightweight material that was used mostly in flat roofing, but also in floors and walls, between the 1950s and 1990s. It is a cheaper alternative to standard concrete, is quicker to produce and easier to install. It is aerated, or “bubbly”, this means that it is less durable and has a lifespan of around 30 years.
With this issue, the safety of patients and staff in the hospitals today should be the highest priority, their safety and well-being need to be the top of the asking price when considering the impact of RAAC and the cost of bringing the buildings up to standard.
The potential consequences of not taking timely and adequate action risks the safety of staff and patients, so the government must act immediately to rectify the affected roof section.
I expressed that the news that the government will be taking action to address this is a step in the right direction, however I am concerned that the scale of the works required will need a robust plan and timescales to be completed with minimal disruption to patients and staff members daily lives.
I have therefore requested that the government make a robust and publicly available work plan with reasonable timescales for completion of the work and that this is published as a matter of urgency alongside a commitment that those in hospitals, including staff and patients have a managed plan to nullify or avoid large-scale disruptions in their work or treatment plans.
Finally, I asked that the government provide all funds needed for the project direct from central government and that this will not directly affect local health service budgets.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 