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| £250m bid to make hospital 'safe' | £250m bid to make hospital 'safe' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A hospital which is riddled with asbestos and does not meet fire safety standards will cost £250m to put right, health officials claim. | A hospital which is riddled with asbestos and does not meet fire safety standards will cost £250m to put right, health officials claim. |
| Plans to bring Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Denbighshire, up to scratch have gone to the Welsh Assembly Government. | |
| A large H-block at the centre of the hospital was built in the 1970s and does not have ceiling fire-breakers. | A large H-block at the centre of the hospital was built in the 1970s and does not have ceiling fire-breakers. |
| Conwy and Denbighshire NHS Trust said it was easier to demolish and rebuild, rather than refurbishing the block. | Conwy and Denbighshire NHS Trust said it was easier to demolish and rebuild, rather than refurbishing the block. |
| The trust's chief executive, Gren Kershaw, said the building in Bodelwyddan was designed in the 1960s, built in the 1970s and eventually opened in 1980. | The trust's chief executive, Gren Kershaw, said the building in Bodelwyddan was designed in the 1960s, built in the 1970s and eventually opened in 1980. |
| As it is, it is not unsafe to staff, patients or the public. It is only unsafe if disturbed Chief executive Gren Kershaw, on asbestos at the hospital | As it is, it is not unsafe to staff, patients or the public. It is only unsafe if disturbed Chief executive Gren Kershaw, on asbestos at the hospital |
| He said: "The building has some structural problems which do not meet today's requirements, and that is the big issue. | He said: "The building has some structural problems which do not meet today's requirements, and that is the big issue. |
| "They were okay then, but not okay now. | "They were okay then, but not okay now. |
| "The steel girder construction of the building is coated with asbestos and that would need moving if we were to renovate. | "The steel girder construction of the building is coated with asbestos and that would need moving if we were to renovate. |
| "It was just about acceptable to use it when the hospital was built. | "It was just about acceptable to use it when the hospital was built. |
| "As it is, it is not unsafe to staff, patients or the public. It is only unsafe if disturbed. | "As it is, it is not unsafe to staff, patients or the public. It is only unsafe if disturbed. |
| "Sorting it out is a really big job, and an expensive job." | "Sorting it out is a really big job, and an expensive job." |
| He added: "Refurbishment would be a really difficult job, with doctors and nurses working in dust and in the middle of building work for 10 years. | He added: "Refurbishment would be a really difficult job, with doctors and nurses working in dust and in the middle of building work for 10 years. |
| A refurbishment could mean doctors working in dust, the Trust says | A refurbishment could mean doctors working in dust, the Trust says |
| "A new building on the outside could take five years less. | "A new building on the outside could take five years less. |
| "Although the Welsh Assembly Government haven't accepted it yet, you could say they are looking very seriously at that option, and I am hopeful that by the end of the calendar year or early next year, a decision will have been made." | "Although the Welsh Assembly Government haven't accepted it yet, you could say they are looking very seriously at that option, and I am hopeful that by the end of the calendar year or early next year, a decision will have been made." |
| Under the plans, the H-block - which houses 12 wards, including intensive care - would be demolished. | Under the plans, the H-block - which houses 12 wards, including intensive care - would be demolished. |
| New buildings would be constructed around the outside of the current site, leaving a green "heart" at the centre. | New buildings would be constructed around the outside of the current site, leaving a green "heart" at the centre. |
| New wards would also be built on the main car park, which would make way for a new multi-storey facility. | New wards would also be built on the main car park, which would make way for a new multi-storey facility. |
| 'Exciting time' | 'Exciting time' |
| To renovate the existing site would also cost an estimated £250m, but it could take twice as long to complete. | To renovate the existing site would also cost an estimated £250m, but it could take twice as long to complete. |
| A new building would be constructed on the main car park, which would temporarily house wards as they were being renovated. | A new building would be constructed on the main car park, which would temporarily house wards as they were being renovated. |
| Departments would then move back to the old building once work was completed. | Departments would then move back to the old building once work was completed. |
| The trust's preferred option is to rebuild, which it claims would also provide more space for patients. | The trust's preferred option is to rebuild, which it claims would also provide more space for patients. |
| Mr Kershaw added: "They are only plans and have not yet been agreed by the Assembly. But it promises to be an exciting time." | Mr Kershaw added: "They are only plans and have not yet been agreed by the Assembly. But it promises to be an exciting time." |
| A spokesman for the Welsh Assembly Government said: "The trust is looking at two main options - one to refurbish those parts of the site needing to be improved and one to replace those parts of the site with a new build. | A spokesman for the Welsh Assembly Government said: "The trust is looking at two main options - one to refurbish those parts of the site needing to be improved and one to replace those parts of the site with a new build. |
| "The business case being developed by the trust will recommend to the Welsh Assembly Government which option should be implemented. | "The business case being developed by the trust will recommend to the Welsh Assembly Government which option should be implemented. |
| "The trust is keeping the assembly government appraised as planning continues." | "The trust is keeping the assembly government appraised as planning continues." |