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As part of the long-term redevelopment plans for the hospital, some of the disused areas of the current building, including the former Dronfield Suite, are being demolished.
RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) was found in the ceiling and walls in the Suite in October 2023.
The Suite was stabilised and monitored structurally to enable the treatment of patients to continue whilst the new unit was under construction.
RAAC is a lightweight, aerated concrete commonly used in the UK primarily for flat roofs and walls in buildings from the mid-1950s to the mid-1990s.
Many public and private sector buildings, including schools and hospitals may contain RAAC - some of which have been closely managed for repair and refurbishment.
However, academic experts at Loughborough University - which led a successful collaborative research project on behalf of the NHS between 2021-2024 - are set to continue their research, through the use of some of the RAAC panels in the Stamford & Rutland Hospital building.
Professor Chris Goodier from the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering at Loughborough University explained: “The previous collaborative research with the NHS was very successful, it helped the NHS better understand and hence maintain and manage their tens of thousands of RAAC panels in hospitals around the country.
“The University advised and supported the NHS on this, and now hospitals have the expertise to successfully and safely manage their own RAAC. We continue to lead the way on how to ensure this is done safety and to support these efforts nationally.”
Chris added: “Some of the RAAC at Stamford is unique in that there are structural wall panels that are in good condition, despite their age. We are working closely with North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust and their contractors to safely remove six of these wall panels and transport them to our research laboratory in order to investigate and better understand aspects such as their structural integrity, durability and lifespan.
"The university would like to thank Stamford & Rutland Hospital for allowing us to have and use six of the RAAC wall panels from the Dronfield Suite, allowing the legacy of the Hospital to continue through new research, knowledge and understanding which will undoubtedly help other hospitals, schools and other public buildings containing RAAC in the future.
“The results of the research will feed into future understanding and guidance surrounding RAAC on structural wall panels.
“Removing the panels for research will also save them from ending up in landfill.”
A brand-new state-of-the-art Day Treatment Unit has now opened at Stamford & Rutland Hospital, providing day case procedures in a number of specialities including pain management, urology, plastic surgery and orthopaedics.