28 September 2023

We would like to inform our patients and their families and carers that we are temporarily unable to provide our usual catering service at Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.

We are continuing to prioritise patient meals throughout this time. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

This follows the identification of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in a kitchen area at the hospital and as a precaution, we have closed the kitchen and Apley Restaurant.

This means that for a short period of time, we need to put in place alternative arrangements:

  •  Patients on a normal diet will be receiving a choice of four soups (all vegetarian); a selection of sandwiches; a selection of cold meat and vegetarian salads; yoghurts; mousse; ice cream; fruit; cheese and biscuits and snacks, which are cakes and biscuits.
  • Those with any dietary requirements will see no change in the menu.
  • For our younger patients on the PRH Children’s ward, we will also be providing fish fingers/chicken nuggets.

Caffe Bistro in the Women and Children’s Centre will be open Monday to Friday: 7.30am-7.30pm or 9am to 4pm Saturday/Sunday and vending machines remain available across the PRH site.

We would like to thank our patients, families and carers for their understanding whilst these temporary arrangements are in place. We are doing all that we can to resume our normal catering service as quickly as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the ward manager or matron.

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete

The safety of our patients and colleagues is paramount. We are working closely with NHS England and following expert advice from the Institution for Structural Engineers to manage the RAAC at PRH safely, including daily inspections by our Estates team, and we have also joined the national RAAC programme.

Our latest media statement is:

Mark Hope, Interim Director of Estates for The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said: “Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) has been identified in a kitchen area at The Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford. As a result, the kitchen and restaurant have been closed.

“Patient and staff meals are continuing with alternative arrangements in place. We would like to thank our patients and staff for their understanding.

“The safety of our patients and colleagues is paramount. We are working closely with NHS England and following expert advice from the Institution for Structural Engineers to manage the RAAC at PRH safely, including daily inspections by our Estates team, and we have also joined the national RAAC programme. Our staff are being kept fully informed.”