New operating theatres expected to be completed by December as works to rebuild Hinchingbrooke Hospital following RAAC concerns continue

An artist's impression of how the operating block is expected to look. Credit: GRAHAM Group.

A new hospital has to be built at the site by 2030 due to issues with RAAC concrete.

Hinchingbrooke Hospital is expected to operate on its first patients in its new operating block in December.

The construction of the new block is part as an ongoing scheme of improvements at the site across areas affected by the use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).

The long-awaited Main Theatres block which will house seven state-of-the-art operating theatres and other Trust services.

Hinchingbrooke is one one of four hospitals in the East of England affected by structural issues relating to the concrete panels used in the construction of some of the walls and roof.

This means that a new hospital building will be built on the site by 2030.

Such are the issues at the hospital, a separate structural issue has seen a weight limit has been put in place to ensure that patients over 20 stone are either treated on the ground floor or at alternative sites.

Patients over 20 stone could be asked not to attend Hinchingbrooke Hospital due ...

Arshiya Khan, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, said: “As the remedial RAAC work is carried out and our construction site takes shape, there will unfortunately be some noise and disruption to services.

"We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause and we are doing all that we can to keep any disruption to a minimum, wherever we can.

“As well as our ongoing estates work, and the redevelopment of our Theatres Block, we are looking to the future in Phase 3 of our exciting redevelopment programme, Hinchingbrooke Hospital: The Next Chapter.

"This is dedicated to building a new hospital on our site by 2030. We have already been working with architects on what a new hospital will look like and have been holding workshops with our staff to gather their expert view on what we need to best care for patients and how departments will link to provide a seamless patient journey.

"It has been great to work together to provide a hospital which will not only be a great place to work, but also provide the best facilities for our patients in the future.”