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Complex £171 million programme of asbestos removal and refurbishment at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd was completed successfully only a few months later than planned
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Following two asbestos-related incidents in 2010, the need for action to strip asbestos from Ysbyty Glan Clwyd became considerably more urgent, driven by statutory improvement notices issued by the Health and Safety Executive. Early in 2011, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (the Health Board) applied to the Welsh Government for capital funding to remove the asbestos and refurbish the hospital.
In 2012, the Welsh Government agreed funding of £110.4 million. The complex process of stripping asbestos and removing some 300,000 tonnes of contaminated waste from the site of a ‘live’ working hospital was successfully completed in 2019, only a few months later than planned, but at a cost of £170.8 million, almost 55% more than the original approved budget.
Our review found that:
This report demonstrates the fundamental importance of good governance and robust oversight of complex capital projects. Whilst the complex refurbishment has been delivered largely on time, the very significant cost overrun might well have been avoided if concerns about the original business case had been properly addressed at the outset. The lessons learned by both the Health Board and the Welsh Government from this project are of relevance to all Welsh public bodies engaged in major capital programmes.