Potentially Dangerous Concrete Discovered at Wrexham Maelor Hospital
Wrexham Maelor Hospital has found crumbling concrete, raising safety concerns for the facility.
Wrexham, Wales, Hospital, Concrete, Safety
Wrexham: Crumbling concrete has been found at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. This concrete, called RAAC, was used a lot from the 1950s to the 1990s. It was a cheaper and lighter option than regular concrete.
Recently, RAAC has started to break down. This puts many buildings at risk of collapse. Owners now face high costs to remove it and fix their properties. In January, a specialist found RAAC in the roof of the Pathology Department.
BCUHB quickly added supports to strengthen the roof. This area holds heavy air conditioning units. They also restricted access to the roof. The fire service has been warned not to put any weight on that section.
Other safety steps include closing off the area below the RAAC roof when it snows. The Operational Estates team checks the roof daily for leaks or other issues. No RAAC has been found in areas where patients or the public go.
BCUHB’s chief executive, Carol Shillabeer, said they found RAAC in a small roof section. This area is not used for patient care. They are working on a plan to remove and replace the RAAC while keeping the area safe.
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