NHS staff devastated at 'permanent' relocation

WELSH health board overseeing work at a hospital with structural building concerns has reportedly told staff members who had temporarily had to work elsewhere due to worries over patient and staff safety that they will not be able to return.

- JONATHON HILL

Staff who had worked in ward 19 at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend say they were told they would be temporarily posted to another of the health board's sites at Ysbyty George Thomas (YGT) in Treorchy after problems emerged with the roof at the Princess of Wales Hospital.

Structural issues with the roof at the hospital had meant it had rotted, and 10 wards had to be evacuated overnight last year. Some wards were moved to other areas of the hospital, while other departments had to move to other parts of the region, in some cases quite far away.

The people's care provision unit - previously in ward 19, which was deemed too unsafe to operate in - had been moved to YGT, which is 15 miles away.

Staff members working in that department, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Western Mail they were told this move was described to them as temporary.

But they say now they have been told by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board that the department will be staying in Treorchy.