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 £15.944 million 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. Throughout the project, Theatre services on the Worksop site have remained fully operational.
Speaking about this achievement, Dr Kirsty Edmondson Jones, Director of Innovation and Infrastructure, said: “The removal of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) from Bassetlaw Hospital is a testament to our unwavering dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of our patients, staff, and visitors. I want to thank everybody involved in this project, this achievement underscores our commitment to providing the highest quality of care in buildings which are fit for purpose.”
At present, the Trust is in the process of delivering an ambitious capital developments programme, and colleagues will continue to monitor appropriate guidance in construction and related techniques to ensure that all its facilities maintain the highest standards of safety and sustainability.
Andy White, Head of Capital Infastructure at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, said: “We are delighted to have completed these works. This has been a huge undertaking, and has required significant enabling works – and we apologise for any inconvenience created by this project.”
“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 within the Trust to ensure minimal impact to visitors and patients.”
In addition to this work, further development is underway on site to improve Bassetlaw Hospital. In March 2023, former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and Bassetlaw MP, Brendan Clarke Smith, visited the site to inspect ongoing works.
