Hospitals responsible for fixing dangerous concrete

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has decided against providing extra financial support to the National Health Service (NHS) to address concerns related to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) in hospitals. This decision comes amid growing pressure on Scottish ministers to allocate more resources to tackle the potentially hazardous building material, especially following the UK government's funding initiative for similar issues in England last year. Health Secretary Neil Gray emphasized that local NHS boards will need to manage any Raac-related problems using their existing budgets. This stance marks a significant divergence from the approach taken by the previous Conservative government, which had committed substantial funds to address Raac in English hospitals. The issue gained prominence after a ceiling collapse in a primary school in Kent in 2018 raised alarms about the safety of buildings constructed with this material. The UK government had previously set a target to eliminate Raac from hospital structures by 2035, allocating £685 million to NHS trusts for this purpose. However, the SNP's refusal to provide additional funding has raised concerns about the safety and structural integrity of Scottish hospitals that may be affected by Raac. As the situation develops, the focus will remain on how local NHS boards will cope with the financial and safety challenges posed by Raac, and whether the Scottish government will reconsider its position in light of ongoing pressures and potential risks to public health.