The Government has updated information on the number of hospital sites in England that are confirmed to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

All hospital sites with confirmed RAAC are in NHS England’s ongoing national RAAC programme, which is backed by £698m in funding from 2021-2025 for trusts to put in place necessary remediation and failsafe measures.

As of 29 February 2024, there are 54 hospital sites with confirmed RAAC in the rolling national programme, which has been in place since 2021.

Since May 2023, 31 sites have been identified following updated monitoring guidance from the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE).

Sites join the programme regardless of the extent to which RAAC is present on the estate, or whether it is in clinical or non-clinical space.

Four sites have entirely eradicated previously-confirmed instances of RAAC.

Seven hospitals that are most affected by RAAC are also part of the New Hospital Programme for full replacement by 2030.

Where possible RAAC is identified, visual inspections and structural surveys take place to verify its presence and level of risk.

Once the presence of RAAC is confirmed, trusts join the national RAAC programme which supports mitigation, remediation, and wider planning to maintain safety.

Keeping hospital capacity open while carefully monitoring and mitigating RAAC until it can be removed is fully in line with current evidence and recommendations from IStructE, the Government said.

Hospitals with confirmed RAAC include James Paget Hospital in Norfolk, Broomfield Hospital in Essex, Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, Harrogate Hospital, and Southampton General Hospital.