A TYPE of concrete, which has caused major safety concerns in the UK, has now been confirmed in three areas of the General Hospital.
Interim chief officer Chris Bown said the building would remain open following the confirmation of Raac in Pathology, Outpatients (ear nose throat) and the Boiler House.
Mr Bown moved to reassure Islanders that there was currently no need to close any facilities or decant services, and encouraged patients to still go to appointments.
Health and Community Services stressed that there is ‘no risk to patients or staff’.
The government recently revealed that following an ‘exhaustive investigation’, it believed Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) could be present in the building.
The material was widely used between the 1950s and 1990s and is lighter and much cheaper than standard concrete – it has a shorter lifespan of about 30 years.
Buildings containing RAAC in the UK, including more than 100 schools, were forced to shut this summer following concerns that they were structurally unsafe.
In a statement issued yesterday, Mr Bown said: ‘At this stage we have been informed there is no need to instruct any closure or decant of services across the now confirmed three areas. The hospital and emergency department remain open and we request appointments are still kept.’
Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet previously said that any structural collapse at the Hospital was ‘unlikely’.
The JEP has asked the government which three areas RAAC has been confirmed in.
