Thousands of extra beds are being set up – many in sports and leisure facilities – to take the pressure off hospitals in Wales during the coronavirus pandemic.

Swansea Bay

Two sites are being converted to provide up to 1,340 temporary beds at the Llandarcy Academy of Sport and Bay Studios in Fabian Way, Swansea.

If needed, 340 beds to made available at the Llandarcy Academy of Sports and 1000 beds to be made available at Bay Studios.

These will be in addition to extra beds created at Morriston, Singleton and Neath Port Talbot hospitals. Over at Morriston Hospital, the outpatients area will be used as temporary ward space whilst atrium area of Neath Port Talbot Hospital is also converted.

There are no plans to provide intensive care beds in either of the field hospitals, as the most seriously ill patients will be cared for in the main hospitals

Aneurin Bevan

Parts of the new £350m Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran will be opened a year early to provide up to an additional 350 beds by the end of April.

Betsi Cadwaladr

Wales’ biggest health board is setting up three field hospitals, providing a total of 850 extra beds.

Venue Cymru in Llandudno, Conwy, will see the theatre, conference centre and arena transformed to provide an additional 350 beds for patients with respiratory complaints.

In Gwynedd, there will be capacity for up to 250 patients at Bangor University’s Canolfan Brailsford sport and leisure centre.

An extra 80 beds are also being set up at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, for use at the end of April.

In Flintshire, Deeside Leisure Centre will provide 250 extra beds, which will also be used by patients from Wrexham.

Cardiff and Vale

Cardiff’s Principality Stadium will become a field hospital, with up to 2,000 beds.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg

The health board said has managed to identify 450 extra beds by repurposing community hospital wards and using nursing and care homes.

A field hospital is also being converted at the Welsh Rugby Union training facility at The Vale Resort, which will provide 290 extra beds.

Hywel Dda

Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, is being converted to offer 350 extra beds. This includes setting up bays with electricity and plumbing, as well as access to catering from stadium kitchens.

Bluestone National Park Resort in Pembrokeshire is to become a recovery centre. It will provide beds for 144 patients to recuperate after being discharged from hospital.

Powys

Although Powys does not have any major hospitals, its health board is increasing the number of beds at Llandrindod Wells Memorial Hospital to provide a “dedicated environment” for patients with higher level health and nursing needs.

Source: BBC Wales