Considerable Work Needed to Redevelop Rhyl’s Royal Alexander Hospital, Says Health Board Boss

A considerable amount of work is needed to redevelop Rhyl’s Royal Alexander Hospital, the health board’s boss has said.
Earlier this month Denbighshire councillors complained there was still no planned timescale for the re-development of the Victorian hospital, which was first proposed more than a decade ago.
The business case was agreed back in March 2021, but the project has stalled and is awaiting Welsh Government approval for the redevelopment and the allocation of the tens of millions of pounds of funds needed.
Inflation is believed to have increased the cost of the project, with one councillor estimating this had rocketed from around £20m to £60m.
Now Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board [BCUHB] interim CEO Carol Shillabeer has said the health board is having to reassess the redevelopment due to inflation.
“With regard to the Royal Alexandra Hospital specifically, it’s clear the building, whilst highly valued, is aged and needs considerable work,” she said.
“With increased costs for supplies and materials, the original quotes for refurbishment and development have increased.
“This means we will have to look again at how we invest in the site.
“We are doing that, and we are committed to working with partners to find a positive way forward.
“The size of any investment will depend on which way we decide to go and what the competing priorities are.”
At a partnerships scrutiny committee meeting earlier this month, Denbighshire councillors questioned BCUHB director Alyson Constantine about the delay.
Mrs Constantine explained the health board were now awaiting a decision from Welsh Government on whether the plans would be taken forward.
But a Welsh Government spokesman also said there were significant capital cost pressures on current schemes.
The spokesman told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and its partners have been asked to consider all funding options available.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​