NHS trusts are told to prepare to evacuate hospitals with crumbling concrete

NHS England has written to trusts advising them to prepare evacuation procedures from clinical areas on their premises that are at risk of collapse from lightweight concrete.1The letter instructs trusts how to identify, manage, and mitigate the risk of hospital buildings containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), after the partial closure of more than 100 schools in England over concerns about roof collapses associated with this material.2The letter from Jacqui Rock, chief commercial officer, and Mike Prentice, national director for emergency planning and incident response, also instructs trusts to plan for failure of RAAC and develop strategies to evacuate patients and services from clinical areas containing the material. Local integrated care boards are advised to gain assurances from general practices in their area that their buildings don’t pose a risk.Regional evacuation plans have already been trialled in the NHS East of England area, and the learning has been shared with…
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