Most of the outpatient clinics at Withybush Hospital that were relocated to alternative locations due to the discovery of faulty Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) planks, will now return to the site.
Hywel Dda University Health Board had to close the Outpatients A building at the Haverfordwest hospital to complete essential survey work.
Now this part of the hospital site is fully operational and ready to welcome patients.
All Outpatient services affected by the RAAC work - including Gastroenterology, General Medicine and Plastic Surgery (with visiting clinicians from Swansea Bay University Health Board) - found temporary homes while the building was repaired.
Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Carruthers, said: “We are really pleased that most of the Outpatients services which were relocated while we worked to repair the RAAC-affected outpatients’ clinical areas have now returned to Withybush.”
Because of the return of outpatient consultations to Withybush, patients are being asked to check their appointment correspondence to ensure that they attend the correct venue for their appointments.
Carruthers said that the health board would write to patients to confirm the date, time and location of appointments or ring patients whose appointments are imminent.
“We urge everybody to please read the appointment letter carefully and note any change of venue, as appointments previously held at a community-healthcare sites may now have returned to Withybush,” said Carruthers.
Although all wards affected by RAAC planks were re-opened in April 2024, work will continue until April 2025 on remedial work to the hospital’s ground floors and affected wards
The status of RAAC at Withybush Hospital
RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) is a material that was commonly used in the construction of buildings between the 1960s and 1990s.
RAAC is different from traditional concrete because it doesn't contain gravel or crushed stone. It's aerated, or "bubbly". As such, it is considered a safety risk because it's weaker than traditional concrete and can fail suddenly.
The material's presence was confirmed at Withybush Hospital in January 2022.
Although all wards affected by RAAC planks were re-opened in April 2024, work will continue until April 2025 on remedial work to the hospital’s ground floors and affected wards will need to be temporarily closed while re-surveying work takes place at the end of 2024 and into 2025.
Re-inspection surveys will begin on the ground floor areas affected by RAAC across 2025 and into 2026.
However, the kitchen has now re-opened and the Therapies area – including Physiotherapy – is on schedule to re-open in mid-November.
Work began on the Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) area in August with the work expected to be finished by the end of the month and operational for mid-November. Work on the Pharmacy area is expected to begin in November and completed within the month.
“We know that the survey work and remedial action has caused considerable disruption and concern among members of our community, and we apologise for any inconvenience caused,” said Carruthers.
“The health board would like to thank hospital staff, patients and visitors for their patience and understanding over the last months while we have been carrying out this essential work.”