A design flaw in the roof of the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, Wales, led to a serious safety hazard, forcing the evacuation of the entire first floor, including the intensive care unit. Extensive repairs costing £28m are underway, with the project expected to be completed by August. The situation highlights the wider issue of NHS estate maintenance in Wales.
A design flaw led to driving rain accumulating beneath tonnes of concrete roof tiles at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, south Wales. This trapped rainwater rotted the wooden battens supporting the tiles, creating a serious safety hazard. Architect Jeoff Houlker, who believes the situation could have become catastrophic during the winter, described the lack of structural separation between the tiles and patients in the beds below.
The entire first floor, including the intensive care unit (ICU), was evacuated as a result. Almost overnight, Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board lost 10 wards, eight theatre spaces, and had to relocate the ICU at a time of immense pressure on Welsh hospitals to address long waiting lists.Work on the roof, costing £28m, is being carried out in stages but is expected to be completed by August. The rapid relocation of services necessitated finding temporary accommodation for the nine-bed ICU. It was given a new home in the space previously occupied by the eye theatre, which in turn had to be moved off-site to a different hospital. This is just one example of the significant ripple effect felt across the entire health board's estate. Dr Gareth Roberts, clinical lead for critical care, highlighted the importance of keeping patients' relatives informed and reassured during the move.Walking through the empty ward for the first time since its evacuation, Dr Roberts admitted a mix of emotions. While acknowledging the need for proactive maintenance rather than reactive solutions, he expressed satisfaction with the safe execution of the move and the demonstrated agility, safety, and dynamism of their teams over the past few months. Wales-wide efforts to provide more hospital care at home allowed for some patient discharges, but the impact on planned care was undeniable. Mr Mears, the health board's boss, stated that they had secured additional capacity at nearby hospitals, such as the Prince Charles Hospital and the Royal Glamorgan Hospital. Despite the setback of a few months, they are committed to getting back on track as quickly as possible, recognizing the long wait times faced by patients.Catherine Theron, Head of Nursing, emphasized the importance of reassuring staff and the local community that the changes are temporary. She commended the resilience of both teams and the hospital community, recognizing their collective efforts during this challenging time. A silver lining to the disruption is the opportunity to address essential updates to fire safety and IT infrastructure. Large parts of the new roof are now fitted with solar panels, which, at full capacity, will meet half the hospital's energy needs. This project highlights the wider issue of NHS estate maintenance across Wales, where the backlog is approaching £977m, with the majority classified as high or significant risk. Mr Mears acknowledged the constant balancing act between delivering day-to-day healthcare and undertaking building repairs. He expressed gratitude for government assistance and plans to increase the NHS capital budget next year. While acknowledging the difficult choices involved, he emphasized the need to mitigate risks and explore ways to improve the estate. The first phase of the new 10,000 sq m roof is now complete, enabling the return of maternity, neo-natal care, and the special care baby unit within a few weeks.
HEALTHCARE HOSPITAL MAINTENANCE SAFETY WELSH NHS
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