Balanced News: Two million hospital patients ‘at risk’ from crumbling concrete

According to data from the Liberal Democrats, almost two million patients and 43,000 NHS staff are at risk from hospital buildings with crumbling concrete. Seven hospitals with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), including four where the material is present throughout, serve a total of 1.94 million people. The NHS chief financial officer revealed that more hospital sites than initially thought were affected by RAAC. The National Audit Office previously found that 41 hospital buildings in England had the lightweight concrete. Under current timelines, all RAAC will be removed from hospitals by 2035, with the seven affected hospitals being rebuilt by 2030.