Urgent Funding Needed for Harrogate District Hospital 'Crumbling Concrete' Repairs
Harrogate District Hosptal has been left to attempt to bid for funding from NHS England to fix reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (raac) found in the building.
Works have been completed on a number of "high-risk" panels, including in hospital theatres and corridors, where they have been secured with temporary props. This is a far from an ideal hospital environment, for both staff and patients alike.
This all comes at a time when the Conservative Government had overseen the longest waiting lists in NHS history, and Conservative MP's voting against publishing a register of hospitals that are in a serious state of disrepair including hospitals affected by aero-concrete (RAAC) and asbestos.
As the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Harrogate & Knaresborough I've been campaigning to improve our local health services. Ensuring that our local hospital is fit for the future is a priority to me and many residents i've spoken with.
That's why I've written to the Secretary of State for Health urging him to release funding for these urgent and necessary repairs. I hope you will support my campaign and add your voice.
Add your name to the letter
Harrogate District Hospital recently announced they are having to bid for £20 million in funding to address a critical structural concern – the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) panels. We are urging the Secretary of State to ensure that Harrogate District Hospital receives the much-needed funding for these crucial repairs.
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Dear Secretary of State,
RE: Urgent Funding Needed for Harrogate District Hospital Repairs
Harrogate District Hospital recently announced they are having to bid for £20 million in funding to address a critical structural concern – the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) panels. These panels, due to their limited lifespan of approximately 30 years, have begun to deteriorate, posing a significant risk to the safety of patients, healthcare professionals, and other staff working to provide essential healthcare services.
What is particularly alarming is that there is no guarantee that the funding bid will be successful. This situation is deeply troubling as it underscores the immediate and undeniable need for government funding to protect the long term future of Harrogate District Hospital and our community that it serves.
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust confirmed the identification of 2,500 Raac panels throughout the hospital, with particular focus on the removal of "high-risk" panels. The potential consequences of failing to address this issue promptly are grave, as these panels are prone to crumbling and collapsing, thereby pose a safety risk to all those within the hospital premises.
Critical remedial works have been completed on a number of "high-risk" panels, including in hospital theatres and corridors, where they have been secured with temporary props. I am sure you can appreciate this is far from an ideal hospital environment, for both staff and patients alike.
I urge you to take immediate action and ensure that Harrogate District Hospital receives the much-needed funding for these crucial repairs. It is worrying that the hospital has had to bid for these funds, and I will continue to campaign to ensure that our healthcare facilities receive the resource and support they required to serve our community effectively.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I eagerly await your response.
Yours sincerely,
Tom Gordon
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate
Harrogate & Knaresborough