Over 4 million patients to be treated in crumbling hospitals by 2030 after Conservative inaction

EMBARGO: 22:30 Tuesday 18th June 

• Almost 4.4 million patients expected to be treated in dangerous hospital buildings by 2030, including 2.8 million aged over 65 and 465,00 children

• Liberal Democrats would inject an extra £1 billion a year to refit and restore NHS buildings and end the scandal of crumbling hospitals

• Lib Dem Deputy Leader warns of a “race against time” to fix NHS hospitals and accuses the Conservatives of failing to protect millions of patients and staff

The Liberal Democrats have today (Wednesday 19 June) announced plans to spend an extra £1 billion a year in the next parliament to fix crumbling NHS hospitals and remove dangerous concrete. 

It comes as new analysis by the party estimates around 4.4 million patients are set to be admitted by 2030 at the seven hospital trusts most impacted by dangerous concrete. Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) is a dangerous form of concrete likened to an “chocolate aero bar” by NHS chiefs due to the bubbles within it that could break and collapse at any point.

According to NHS data, only four of the 58 hospitals identified as having dangerous RAAC buildings have fixed the issue so far. None of the seven hospitals identified as the most affected by the RAAC scandal have yet had the problem eradicated.

The Liberal Democrat analysis estimates that if current trends continue, another 4.38 million patients will be admitted at the seven NHS Trusts with hospital buildings most affected by dangerous concrete between now and 2030. Of these, there will be 2.7 million patients over the age of 65 and 465,000 children.

One of these seven hospitals is Frimley Park in Michael Gove’s Surrey Heath constituency, where RAAC was identified in 65% of the hospital, resulting in the closure of half of the hospital's ICU and two operating theatres at various times of the last few years.

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper will raise the issue of crumbling hospitals on a visit to Jeremy Hunt’s constituency of Godalming and Ash today. The party’s manifesto included plans to spend an extra £1 billion a year over the next parliament as part of their 10-year plan to end the scandal of crumbling roofs and remove dangerous RAAC from NHS hospitals. 

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper said:

“The Conservatives have let our NHS crumble. They have failed to protect millions of patients and NHS staff who are forced to treat people in dangerous buildings. 

“It is a race against time to fix our hospitals. NHS staff and patients should not be in a constant state of fear that the buildings in which they are working and being treated are unsafe. 

“After years of failure, voters simply do not trust the Conservatives to fix the scandal of dangerous concrete in our hospitals.

“The Liberal Democrats have set out a manifesto to save the NHS, including an extra £1 billion per year to fix crumbling hospital buildings and ensure patients receive the care they deserve.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Data on NHS Hospital admissions from 2022-23 can be found here. 

The seven hospital trusts most affected are: West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust. 

The total patient admissions to the seven hospital trusts most affected by RAAC between 2022-2030 is estimated to be 4,382,548. This is based on patient admission numbers continuing to grow by the same rate as 2022-23, at 2.6% year on year.

RAAC hospitals

• The list of Hospitals where RAAC has been identified, and actions taken as of February 2024, is here. 

• The seven most affected hospitals can be found here

• Information on Frimley Park Hospital and their assessment of the impact of RAAC on the hospital can be found here.

Other hospitals where RAAC has been identified include Stepping Hill Hospital in Hazel Grove, the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester and the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford.