Grange Hospital Staff Defend Safety Amid Overcrowding and Online Criticism
Senior staff at Grange University Hospital say it is safe and has strong survival rates, while its emergency department runs over capacity with waits up to 18 hours.
The story in focus
Senior staff at Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran have defended its safety and survival rates after social media posts called it dangerous. The emergency department was over capacity with waits up to 18 hours during a BBC visit, and the health board remains in Level 4 Welsh government escalation for urgent and emergency care.
- Grange University Hospital opened early in the pandemic in September 2020 and has faced scrutiny over delays, overcrowding and staff shortages.
- During a BBC visit, more than 90 patients were in the emergency department, with the longest wait about 18 hours.
- The health board's chief operating officer said the hospital has among the best mortality rates in Wales and rates well for hip fractures and emergency surgery.
- The health board remains in Level 4 Welsh government escalation for urgent and emergency care performance.
- Ambulance handover times improved, with 67% of ambulances released within 45 minutes over the previous 30 days, compared with 33% on the day of the visit.
Pressure inside the emergency department
On the day of BBC News's visit, all eight resuscitation beds were full and staff had to move patients to make room for new arrivals. More than 90 patients were in the department, with the longest wait about 18 hours.
Dr Zoe Morgan-Pittard said the department was over capacity and that staff were placing patients in any extra space available. One patient, 84-year-old Margaret Giles, spent nine hours on a trolley in an open area behind cubicles after a suspected hip injury.
Defending safety and survival rates
Chief operating officer Leanne Watkins said the hospital has among the best mortality rates in Wales and performs well on emergency surgery and fractured hip procedures. She said the health board's own data shows death rates lower than similar hospitals in Wales after accounting for population and case severity.
Watkins said online criticism was driven by a small number of complaints and was devastating for staff. She acknowledged that delays are unacceptable but insisted the hospital is safe.
Escalation and improvement efforts
The Welsh government said Aneurin Bevan health board remains in Level 4 escalation for urgent and emergency care and must show clear improvement plans and better performance. The hospital has introduced a portacabin with 10 beds and 15 chairs to speed up discharges.
Ambulance handovers have improved: 67% of ambulances were released within 45 minutes over the previous 30 days, though on the day of the visit only 33% met that target.
What did health board officials say about the hospital's safety record?
Chief operating officer Leanne Watkins said the hospital has among the best mortality rates in Wales and performs well on hip fractures and emergency surgery. She said health board data shows lower death rates than similar hospitals after accounting for case severity.
Sources & further reading
- Hospital deemed 'dangerous' and 'dreadful' online claims to be among safest in the country ↗BBC News
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