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Jess Brown-Fuller MP visits St Richard’s Hospital to discuss RAAC removal and pathology services
- ethanstorey3
- Jan 19
- 2 min read
Last Friday, 16 January 2026, Jess Brown-Fuller visited St Richard’s Hospital to discuss reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) removal in the South Wing and its impact on hospital services.
RAAC is a lightweight building material that was widely used between the 1950s and 1990s, particularly in public buildings such as hospitals and schools. Initially seen as an affordable alternative to concrete, RAAC is now known to have major structural safety issues.
As of September 2025, there were 41 hospital sites with confirmed RAAC in England, St Richard’s included. University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust is currently planning essential works at the hospital to remove RAAC from a large area of the South Wing. This part of the hospital houses several departments including Pathology, Mortuary and Nuclear Medicine.
Jess had the opportunity to tour the South Wing and view areas of RAAC. Jess also visited the pathology laboratories, where she viewed brand-new equipment and spoke to clinicians. Pathology plays a crucial role in diagnostics and treatment of disease through analysis of tissue and blood samples, supporting the work of other services such as urgent care and GPs.
Jess’ visit comes at a time when the Trust is carrying out RAAC remediation work and separately assessing how it can modernise its pathology services across its hospitals. Jess joined senior Trust officials to discuss these changes, and she sought reassurance that all essential pathology services, including emergency blood work and maternity support, will be retained at St Richard’s.
Following the visit, Jess said:
“I am glad to see RAAC remediation taking place at St Richard’s. The Conservatives left our schools and hospital buildings falling apart. The local community deserves a safe, modern, fully-funded hospital, and I welcome these works which will help secure the high-quality buildings our NHS needs.
“I want to recognise the dedication of our pathology staff who continue to provide vital services during this period of disruption. Their work underpins around 80% of all diagnoses, and whilst often unsung, they have a significant and direct impact on patient care every single day.
“I will keep fighting for the investment our area deserves to ensure St Richard’s remains a key cornerstone of local healthcare.
“I will continue to monitor potential changes to hospital services very closely and ask residents to contact me if they have any concerns or worries.”
