An NHS trust has said it understands that hospitals with crumbling concrete remain a priority for the Government after a review was announced into a programme to build new facilities.
This includes a new West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds which is due to be built at the Hardwick Manor site next to its current base.
The new-build is needed as the current hospital was built in the 1970s and has defects associated with RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) in its roof and walls.
In May 2023, it was confirmed seven new schemes, predominantly those hospitals constructed from RAAC, would be prioritised, with West Suffolk among them.
Questions have since been raised as to whether the review would delay the new hospital.
Today, a West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT) spokesperson said: “It is our understanding that RAAC hospitals remain a priority for the Government.
“The WSFT team continue to develop plans for a replacement hospital and are on track to deliver this by the end of 2030.”
On July 23, Wes Streeting, Health Secretary, told the Commons: “Hospitals with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete are at the top of my list of priorities. I am extremely concerned about the dire state of the NHS estate.”
Yesterday, South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge visited West Suffolk Hospital to reiterate his support for the new-build.
He said he was delighted by the clear statement from Mr Streeting that the replacement of the RAAC estate remains a priority.
It was the very presence of RAAC which made the rebuild of West Suffolk Hospital such an urgent priority, he said.
“I hope this therefore means that the team at WSH can continue developing their design for the new build,” said Mr Cartlidge.
Papers to the trust’s board last month said West Suffolk is the only RAAC trust to have its strategic case agreed, to have received funding for the development of its outline business case and for enabling works which support full planning permission and the ability to start construction.
Published by Suffolk News.
