Grange Hospital ward ready for patients

HUNDREDS of extra beds have been made available for Covid-19 patients at a partially-completed hospital.

Contractors building the new Grange University Hospital at Llanfrechfa, Cwmbran, handed over a number of finished ward areas to Aneurin Bevan University Health Board on Monday – months ahead of schedule.

The space, complete with 384 extra beds, was made ready by contractors Laing O’Rourke and Gleeds in just four weeks.

The health board said hospitals within the area have not experienced the surge in cases it expected.

As a result, the beds are not needed at the moment, but they will remain ready to receive patients should the situation change.

The health board has released these pictures to show the incredible transformation the site has undergone in the last month.

Chief Executive Judith Paget thanked residents for their support and said she hopes the extra beds at The Grange University Hospital will not need to be opened early.

“At the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak we needed to plan for the worst case scenario,” she said.

“I would like to thank Laing O’Rourke and Gleeds for the great amount of effort and skill they have shown to get these areas of the hospital ready for us to use.

“Thankfully, the general public have observed the advice on staying at home and social distancing, so we don’t need to open the extra beds just yet.

“I would urge people to keep following the government guidance to protect themselves, to ease the pressure on our NHS services, and to save lives.”

Once it is fully open, The Grange Hospital will deal with all major emergencies and will treat those