HC Deb 09 June 1981 vol 6 cc102-3W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the additional cost of modifying the kitchens at the new Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital at Bangor; what proportion of this additional cost arises from design faults, and what proportion from implementation failures; whether any responsibility for these lies with the Gwynedd area health authority; what steps his Department has taken to ensure that there is no similar failing in the future; and if he will compensate the Gwynedd area health authority for the additional operating costs arising from the delays and inconvenience caused by these mistakes.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

Welsh Office officials are urgently considering with Gwynedd AHA and the Welsh Health Technical Services Organisation the background to these problems. The AHA has asked for funds to be made available to provide a completely new kitchen and dining complex but that is only one option and other approaches are also being explored.

The Welsh Office will meet the capital cost of those works which are found necessary to bring the catering department up to an acceptable standard. Until a firm decision on remedial measures has been taken, it is not possible to say what these costs will be or to determine what adjustment will have to be made to the revenue monies due to be paid to the AHA in respect of this scheme.

As with all hospital building projects, the AHA and its predecessors were fully involved in the initial design of the hospital in conjunction with the Welsh Office and WHTSO and their predecessors.

There are well established procedures governing the design and implementation of AHA capital projects, which include monitoring the progress of construction work. These controls have proved generally satisfactory in the past but in the light of this case the Welsh Office will now be considering whether any changes should be made.

population* Percentage Percentage of age group supported by local authorities residential accommodation †
65 and over (thousands) 75 and over (thousands) 65 and over 75 and over 65 and over 75 and over
Clwyd 62.2 24.1 16.1 6.2 1.9 3.4
Dyfed 55.5 20.1 17.0 6.2 1.9 4.1
Gwent 60.6 22.1 13.9 5.1 1.6 3.5
Gwynedd 39.9 15.9 17.6 7.0 2.1 4.3
Mid Glamorgan 75.0 26.7 14.0 5.0 1.6 3.5
Powys 17.9 6.6 16.6 6.1 2.2 4.9
South Glamorgan 57.4 22.3 14.7 5.7 1.8 3.7
West Glamorgan 56.8 20.8 15.5 5.7 1.5 3.2
WALES 425.3 158.6 15.3 5.7 1.8 3.7
* Mid year estimates, j 1980.
† Residents, permanent and short stay, supported by the authority in local authorities' own homes or in voluntary or private homes, under the National Assistance Act 1948, at 31 March 1980.