Work on Scarborough Hospital’s new £25 million laboratory has reached a major milestone, as construction progresses on a replacement for a RAAC-hit building deemed unsafe to use.
The new acute service laboratory is being built after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was discovered in the former pathology department in 2023, leading to services being relocated elsewhere on the hospital site.
Plans submitted as part of the redevelopment described the ageing building as “increasingly unsafe, inefficient and unsustainable” and warned the presence of RAAC posed a risk of “potential death or serious injuries” if the structure was not replaced.
York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said the new three-storey, 2,600 sq m facility would provide a modern home for pathology services and support diagnostic testing for patients across Scarborough and the surrounding area.
The project, being delivered by Integrated Health Projects (IHP), a joint venture between VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine, follows the completion of the hospital’s £47m Urgent and Emergency Care Centre.
Once operational, the laboratory will provide round-the-clock services including clinical biochemistry, haematology, blood transfusion, molecular diagnostics and point-of-care testing.
Clare Smith, chief executive of York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“This is another really positive step forward for Scarborough Hospital and an important investment in the future of the services we provide for our local communities.
“Pathology plays a vital role in patient care, helping our clinical teams make timely diagnoses and decisions about treatment, often behind the scenes.
“Our colleagues do an incredible job, and it’s important that they have the facilities and environment they need to deliver the best possible care.”
The trust said pathology staff had been working from alternative accommodation since the discovery of RAAC in the former department.
The replacement facility is also intended to provide space for future service expansion, with additional accommodation earmarked for ophthalmology and outpatient services.
Chris Norman, managing director of York Teaching Hospital Facilities Management, said the project would replace ageing infrastructure while helping secure services at Scarborough Hospital for decades to come.
“This £25 million development is about much more than a new building,” he said.
“It will give our pathology colleagues the modern, purpose-built environment they need to continue delivering vital diagnostic services for our patients, while providing a facility designed to meet the needs of Scarborough and our surrounding communities for many years to come.”
Regional director at VINCI Building, Chris Winspear, described the topping out ceremony as a “significant milestone” and said the project team was looking forward to delivering the new facility.
Work is expected to continue throughout 2027, with the laboratory due to become operational towards the end of that year.
By: Anttoni James Numminen, LDRS
