Pictured: Inside crumbling NHS hospital where six wards are shut and 150 props hold up RAAC ceilings

Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest was found to be riddled with RAAC in May
RAAC is structurally weaker than traditional concrete with a lifespan of 30 years
READ MORE: NHS rows back on target of eliminating crumbly concrete by 2035

A hospital in Wales has admitted that patients have been at risk for ‘many years’ after crumbling concrete was detected throughout its premises.

Bosses at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, discovered in May that its site was riddled with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

The lightweight material — which is prone to collapse — has come under renewed focus in recent weeks after more than a hundred schools were told to shut over safety fears.

Now, shocking footage shows how more than 150 steel and timber props have been erected at the Welsh hospital to hold up wards built with RAAC panels.

In one ward that usually holds six beds, the roof support needed is so great that it’s impossible to reopen, while through one hallway alone, 40 props have been erected to hold up the ceiling.

Hospital bosses compared keeping the site open to ‘trying to rebuild an aeroplane while it’s in the air’.

Staff said it has been ‘scary’ working under cracked ceilings and warned that the crisis has piled pressure on already bulging waiting lists, with appointments cancelled after parts of the hospital had to be shut down.

An ITV documentary has laid bare the full extent of the crisis at Withybush Hospital (pictured), which serves a population of more than 120,000. Clips show how wards have been evacuated, with patients and staff moved to hospitals 12 miles away

The scandal over reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) sparked alarm when the extent of its use in schools was laid bare.

The material has since also been found in some universities, theatres and Heathrow and Gatwick airports, as well as hospitals.

In an ITV documentary, health reporter Katie Fenton laid bare the full extent of the crisis at Withybush Hospital, which serves a population of more than 120,000.

Clips show how wards have been evacuated, with patients and staff moved to hospitals 12 miles away.

There are visible cracks throughout the building’s RAAC — a sign that it may be about to collapse — with bosses unable to predict when further cracks will appear.

Read more: Dozens more hospitals feared to be riddled with RAAC – as NHS rows back on target of eliminating crumbly concrete by 2035

Hospitals affected include Airedale in West Yorkshire, Queen Elizabeth King’s Lynn in Norfolk, Hinchingbrooke in Cambridgeshire, Mid Cheshire Leighton in Cheshire and Frimley Park in Surrey. The two worst affected include West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds and James Paget Hospital in Norfolk (pictured)

me corridors and wards are only open thanks to props and barriers holding up the ceiling.

Malcolm Arnold, the health board’s estates manager for Pembrokeshire, showed how weak the RAAC was by crumbling a broken piece in his hand.

He told ITV ‘it has the potential of collapsing at any time effectively’.

He added: ‘In one of these bays, you would have six beds. But as you can see, the propping required in here — you would not be able to get any beds in here to make it a fully-functioning bay.’

Bosses have known that the material was present at Withybush Hospital since 2019, after the Welsh Government asked the country’s seven health boards to survey their hospitals.

But Hywel Dda University Health Board’s chief executive, Steve Moore, revealed that it was only in May 2023 that a second expert survey warned it was vital that urgent safety measures were taken at the hospital.

A major internal incident was declared at the hospital, which admits around 100 patients a day, in August following another investigation into RAAC at the site.

A large number of patients and staff have already moved to South Pembrokeshire Hospital in Pembroke Dock.

The treatment of stroke, oncology and haematology patients, patients suffering with heart conditions and those receiving palliative care meanwhile have been moved to alternative areas at Withybush.

Tim Griffiths, lead physiotherapist for acute and community services in Pembrokeshire, told the broadcaster that it was ‘scary’ working on the site.

He said: ‘It’s reassuring that things are being put in place now, the props may not be sightly, but at least we know it’s been assessed properly and it’s safe to come back and do the job again.’

Malcolm Arnold (pictured), the health board’s estates manager for Pembrokeshire, showed how weak the RAAC was by crumbling a broken piece in his hand. He told ITV ‘it has the potential of collapsing at any time effectively’. He added: ‘In one of these bays, you would have six beds. But as you can see, the propping required in here — you would not be able to get any beds in here to make it a fully-functioning bay

In one ward that usually holds six beds (pictured), the roof support needed is so great that it’s impossible to reopen, while through one hallway alone, 40 props have been erected to hold up the ceiling. Hospital bosses compared keeping the site open to ‘trying to rebuild an aeroplane while it’s in the air’

Hywel Dda University Health Board told ITV that s ix wards have already been closed off, with three not expected to reopen until Christmas , while the other three face being completed closed until April 2024. A large number of patients and staff have already moved to South Pembrokeshire Hospital in Pembroke Dock. The treatment of stroke, oncology and haematology patients, patients suffering with heart conditions and those receiving palliative care meanwhile have been moved to alternative areas at Withybush

But Mr Griffiths warned that pressure on waiting lists have increased, fewer patients are being seen per day and that staff are struggling to provide a good standard of care.

Hywel Dda University Health Board estimates it will take almost £13million alone to make short-term repairs at Withybush Hospital, which has been provided by the Welsh Government.

Additional funding will also be required to make long-term repairs, it estimates.

The hospital was built in the 1970s when RAAC use was widespread.

On Thursday, a report on a consultation about proposals for a new urgent and emergency care hospital on three potential sites will be considered by the health board.

When asked by ITV whether patients were in danger prior to action being taken in May, the Mr Moore said: ‘I think in hindsight the truth is that they were.

‘I think the issue is that nobody knew, including the experts in these sorts of issues – the structural engineers.

‘I’m very glad that we are now at the point where they are safe, but there would’ve been risks that we had no idea about going back many, many years, perhaps to the point where the hospital was built.’

He said that making the hospital safe has been like ‘trying to rebuild an aeroplane while it’s in the air’.

In Wales, large areas of RAAC have also been identified at Nevill Hall Hospital, in Abergavenny, while smaller areas found at a plant room at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth.

While enhanced surveys are being carried out across NHS Wales estates, the Welsh Government has said it does not anticipate the need for repairs at any other hospitals.

Local authorities in Wales are also currently assessing RAAC in schools and colleges.

In England, 41 buildings across 23 NHS trusts have been affected by the material, with seven hospitals having RAAC present throughout.

Clips published by ITV show how wards have been evacuated, with patients and staff moved to hospitals 12 miles away. There are visible cracks throughout the building’s RAAC — a sign that it may be about to collapse — with bosses unable to predict when further cracks will appear

Some corridors and wards are only open thanks to props and barriers holding up the ceiling (pictured). Hywel Dda University Health Board estimates it will take almost £13million alone to make short-term repairs at Withybush Hospital, which has been provided by the Welsh Government. Additional funding will also be required to make long-term repairs, it estimates

At West Suffolk Hospital (pictured), an assessment from April warned of a ‘catastrophic’ and ‘likely’ risk of collapse. This would cause ‘loss of life and/or major injury’ with ‘asbestos and dust inhalation’ a major risk, it said

It comes as NHS England last week asked all hospitals in England to survey their buildings amid concerns more sites may have been built with RAAC.

Writing to all hospital trusts, health service bosses also said those with known RAAC should review plans for patient evacuation ‘as a matter of priority’.

Managers in hospitals where the material has already been confirmed have also been told to ensure that management plans to deal with it are ‘sufficiently robust and being implemented’.

As part of its commitment to eradicate RAAC from the NHS estate by 2035, the Government allocated £685million over five years up to 2024-25 to mitigate immediate safety risks.

The seven worst affected hospitals in England include Airedale in West Yorkshire, Queen Elizabeth King’s Lynn in Norfolk, Hinchingbrooke in Cambridgeshire, Mid Cheshire Leighton in Cheshire and Frimley Park in Surrey.

The two worst affected are West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds and James Paget Hospital in Norfolk.

At West Suffolk Hospital an assessment from April warned of a ‘catastrophic’ and ‘likely’ risk of collapse.

This would cause ‘loss of life and/or major injury’ with ‘asbestos and dust inhalation’ a major risk, it said.

The Government has confirmed that the seven hospitals would be fully replaced before 2030 under its new hospital programme.

But last week, health chiefs admitted to MPs that ‘tens’ more buildings were currently undergoing checks over fears they are also riddled with the material.

As a result, they didn’t ‘want to absolutely say’ when the work would be completed by.

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