Major plan for new University Hospital of Wales appears to have stalled
In 2021 the health board said work to build a new hospital could start this year but that appears to have been pushed back
University Hospital of Wales in Heath, Cardiff
(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne )
Plans to replace the dilapidated main hospital for Wales appear to hang in the balance as neither the health board in charge nor Welsh Government can explain what progress has been made In 2021 the health board announced it wanted to start building a replacement for Wales' largest hospital.
At that time it was said work could start in 2025 and be finished three years later but no details of whether it would be built at the existing site University Hospital of Wales (UHW) site in Cardiff or at another location were given. At that stage a £107m price tag was put on the plans to replace UHW, which was built between 1962 and 1971.
The health board's then-chief executive of strategic planning Abigail Harris said: "The time is right to look at the facilities we need for the future."
It was said then that Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, which runs UHW, had asked the Welsh Government for funding to draw up detailed plans to replace the hospital with a new one. University Hospital Llandough was also to be refurbished and extended. You can read the detail from the 2021 WalesOnline report here.
Last week First Minister Eluned Morgan was asked for an update about the hospital's plans. Independent MS Rhys ab Owen asked what plans were being looked in terms of a new hospital. She was unable to answer. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
We then went to Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and the Welsh Government asking for any update and whether there are still plans for a new UHW to be built.
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The Welsh Government responded: "Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is currently developing a plan for the future of both the University Hospital of Wales and University Hospital Llandough sites. Following this we will work with the health board about options and timelines."
When we asked whether there had been progress, or agreement on the funding plan, or whether progress had been made for proposed changes at Llandough, or whether there were still plans for a new UHW to be built, we were directed to the health board.
A health board spokesman failed to directly answer whether a new hospital was still being looked at or to offer any amended timetable for the original proposals from 2021 but said a condition survey about the hospital's condition was being carried out and "is expected to complete this year". That will, we were told, "help the health board identify options for estate development to support our clinical services plan including University Hospital of Wales and University Hospital Llandough".
Their statement in full said: "We are aware that the modernisation and maintenance issues are indicative of a national NHS ageing estate. Colleagues within our capital and estates team provide continuous maintenance and repair works to the hospital infrastructure, prioritising the health and safety of patients and colleagues. This is done in conjunction with and supported by Welsh Government estates and capital colleagues.
"The health board submitted a business case to Welsh Government in 2021 and has, with the support of Welsh Government, recently commissioned a condition survey to clarify estate priorities. The condition survey is expected to complete this year and will help the health board identify options for estate development to support our clinical services plan, including University Hospital of Wales and University Hospital Llandough.
"Cardiff and Vale University Health Board continue to work proactively with Welsh Government on a number of business case developments which are intended to improve the site infrastructure."
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