The cost of bringing Powys hospitals up to scratch could be as much as £70 million.

Powys Teaching Health Board as confirmed that according to its best estimates, the cost of bringing its estate up to the standard needed for the future could cost tens of millions of pounds.

The Health board says that an estimate to improve facilities back in 2018 in £69.5 million is the best estimate they have for building which are over 70 years old.

OTHER NEWS:

A spokesperson for Powys Teaching Health Board said: “Here in Powys, many of our hospital and healthcare buildings are over 75 years old, preceding the establishment of the NHS.

"This does mean that the environment was designed based on historic models of care, rather than the needs of today and tomorrow.

“Much of the infrastructure and insulation does not meet modern standards. This can significantly increase the amount we spend on energy for heating and lighting.

"As a health board we are making important progress, For example, a £15m investment in Ysbyty Bro Ddyfi has transformed the front of the hospital. A £4.2m programme is under way to upgrade roof and pipework insulation, install LED lighting add solar panels, and reduce our energy costs.”

Help support trusted local news

Sign up for a digital subscription now: www.countytimes.co.uk/subscribe

As a digital subscriber you will get

  • Unlimited access to the County Times website
  • Advert-light access
  • Reader rewards
  • Full access to our app

The Health Board has said that the cost could have changed after this work but could not say how much the estimate has been affected by the high rate of inflation in the last three years.

They added: "Given the age of our estate, the most recent estimate to bring all of our buildings to satisfactory modern standards is around £70m.

“That estimate was based on a comprehensive survey of our buildings undertaken in 2017/18. Work is currently under way to provide an updated assessment, and we expect that work to be complete by early 2025.

"The updated estimate will take account of the improvement work we have undertaken as well as inflationary pressures and other factors.

“That assessment will also help us have a wide ranging conversation with patients and communities across Powys in order to agree the future shape of safe and sustainable health services in the county.”