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'Too hot' floors delay hospital 'Too hot' floors delay hospital
(about 5 hours later)
A £36m hospital's opening date has been delayed because the floors are too hot to walk on, it has been revealed.A £36m hospital's opening date has been delayed because the floors are too hot to walk on, it has been revealed.
Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda was due to open last autumn but the underfloor heating system has caused floor tiles to reach a reported 40C (104F).Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda was due to open last autumn but the underfloor heating system has caused floor tiles to reach a reported 40C (104F).
The Conservatives will raise the problem at the new 108-bed hospital at Llwynypia, Rhondda Cynon Taf, later.The Conservatives will raise the problem at the new 108-bed hospital at Llwynypia, Rhondda Cynon Taf, later.
Cwm Taf NHS Trust said there are "apparent defects" and it had commissioned an independent review.Cwm Taf NHS Trust said there are "apparent defects" and it had commissioned an independent review.
The delay means patients are still being treated at nearby Llwynypia hospital even though it was meant to close last year.The delay means patients are still being treated at nearby Llwynypia hospital even though it was meant to close last year.
It is understood repair work may take until next spring to complete.It is understood repair work may take until next spring to complete.
Leighton Andrews AM said the floor's temperature reached 40CLeighton Andrews AM said the floor's temperature reached 40C
Conservative health spokesman Andrew Davies will raise the overheating problem at the Welsh Assembly later.Conservative health spokesman Andrew Davies will raise the overheating problem at the Welsh Assembly later.
"This is of great concern to a community that has already been waiting 20 years for a new hospital," he said."This is of great concern to a community that has already been waiting 20 years for a new hospital," he said.
"It could be next spring before this problem is made right - and that may mean money has to be spent on the antiquated hospital where patients are being treated in the meantime.""It could be next spring before this problem is made right - and that may mean money has to be spent on the antiquated hospital where patients are being treated in the meantime."
The new hospital is one of the first in the UK to use sustainable resources and its underfloor heating system was described as being one of the most environmentally-friendly in the NHS.The new hospital is one of the first in the UK to use sustainable resources and its underfloor heating system was described as being one of the most environmentally-friendly in the NHS.
But it is understood contractors have not been able to control the heat of the floor in some parts of the hospital, including the corridors. Some of the tiles have even buckled in the heat.But it is understood contractors have not been able to control the heat of the floor in some parts of the hospital, including the corridors. Some of the tiles have even buckled in the heat.
Leighton Andrews, AM for the Rhondda Valleys, said: "This was meant to be one of the most environmentally-friendly hospitals because of the nature of the heating system.Leighton Andrews, AM for the Rhondda Valleys, said: "This was meant to be one of the most environmentally-friendly hospitals because of the nature of the heating system.
"But the underfloor heating has made the floor too hot to walk on - I understand that temperatures have reached 40C."But the underfloor heating has made the floor too hot to walk on - I understand that temperatures have reached 40C.
The upshot is that it is unlikely that the hospital will be handed over to the trust until the end of the year in which case it probably wouldn't open until next year Clive Barnby, Pontypridd Rhondda Community Health CouncilThe upshot is that it is unlikely that the hospital will be handed over to the trust until the end of the year in which case it probably wouldn't open until next year Clive Barnby, Pontypridd Rhondda Community Health Council
"It was meant to be state-of-the-art but we are now well behind the scheduled opening date.""It was meant to be state-of-the-art but we are now well behind the scheduled opening date."
Clive Barnby, chief officer of Pontypridd Rhondda Community Health Council, said: "There aren't expansion joints in the floor so when the heating comes on there's no flexibility for the joints to expand.Clive Barnby, chief officer of Pontypridd Rhondda Community Health Council, said: "There aren't expansion joints in the floor so when the heating comes on there's no flexibility for the joints to expand.
"The upshot is that it is unlikely that the hospital will be handed over to the trust until the end of the year in which case it probably wouldn't open until next year.""The upshot is that it is unlikely that the hospital will be handed over to the trust until the end of the year in which case it probably wouldn't open until next year."
The hospital will have 100 rehabilitation beds, an eight-bed stroke unit, an outpatient department, minor injuries unit and an integrated primary care centre.The hospital will have 100 rehabilitation beds, an eight-bed stroke unit, an outpatient department, minor injuries unit and an integrated primary care centre.
David Lewis, director of finance at Cwm Taf NHS Trust, said: "We have had practical completion of the hospital and there are apparent defects in the flooring.David Lewis, director of finance at Cwm Taf NHS Trust, said: "We have had practical completion of the hospital and there are apparent defects in the flooring.
"We have commissioned an independent review to determine whether there are defects and, if so, what remedial action needs to be take."We have commissioned an independent review to determine whether there are defects and, if so, what remedial action needs to be take.
"We will have this report by the end of the month and we will then know what the next step will be.""We will have this report by the end of the month and we will then know what the next step will be."
The Welsh Assembly Government said it was "determined" that the hospital would be delivered to high standards and be opened as soon as possible.
"An independent review of the cause of the apparent flooring defects and the remedial measures needed to correct them has already been commissioned and this review should be concluded before the end of the month.
"Once the outcome of the review is known, we will be in a position to determine the timescale required to complete that work."