Hospital bosses refuse to provide more detail of impact of roof leaks (original) (raw)

A Welsh health board is refusing to provide any details about the scale of the disruption caused by the leak at a hospital in its area. Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board announced last week that several areas of the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend have been closed as a result of water leaking through the roof.

This includes some areas where patients were being given care, with those affected moved to alternative wards. Some outpatients have also been contacted to reschedule appointments as a result of the leak, with the health board urging anyone to still attend if they have not been contacted about the disruption.

The health board has also posted on Facebook pages for its other hospitals, the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr and the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, to say that the leak in Bridgend is causing knock on problems at those hospitals. WalesOnline asked the health board for details about the scale of the problems.

However the health board would not to tell us how many hospital beds are out of action as a result of the leak, how many operations have been cancelled or rescheduled, if patients had been moved to other hospitals, what departments have been impacted and how many wards have been closed.

READ MORE: New mum describes overstretched conditions at maternity unit with staff almost reduced to tears

READ MORE: Tomatoes are growing in the guttering of a leak-hit Welsh hospital it's in such a shocking state

In a statement last week, the health board said work was already underway on the roof which was in need of attention, however the recent severe weather worsened the situation, resulting in the closure of several parts of the hospital. Guttering at the hospital has been photographed full of weeds.

Overgrown guttering seen at the Princess Of Wales Hospital

Earlier that week, a statement was posted to the Facebook page dedicated to Prince Charles Hospital, in Merthyr Tydfil, which warned people of how busy services are. The post added: "In addition, we are managing the effects of the severe, wet weather on the Princess of Wales hospital which is causing some disruption on this site."

WalesOnline understands that issues regarding water entering the building have been ongoing throughout the month of September.

Women who are due to give birth under the health board are also facing disruption due to the closure of the maternity ward at the Princess of Wales Hospital, which is currently undergoing urgent works. One mum told how her induction at Prince Charles Hospital was delayed for over a week as the maternity unit there struggled to cope with the influx of birthing mothers in September.

According to the health board, the leak has not affected the maternity area of Princess of Wales Hospital, and the work is on schedule for completion in the beginning of December.

If you have been affected by this disruption, you can get in contact with us by emailing lydia.royce@walesonline.co.uk.

Story Saved

You can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.