How a Welsh holiday resort transformed into a hospital ready to accept coronavirus patients

  • Report by Jess Main

Just four weeks ago, Bluestone resort in Pembrokeshire should have been gearing up for the start of the tourist season, with Easter one of their busiest times of the year.

Instead, they'd begun working with Hywel Dda University Health Board and the local council to create a brand new 144-bed recovery and rehabilitation centre for Covid-19 patients, to relieve demand and pressure on overstretched hospital wards.

144 beds have been created at the resort to allow patients to recuperate after being discharged from hospital. Credit: ITV Wales

Today 'Ysbyty Enfys Carreg Las' as it has been named, was officially handed over to the NHS.

As staff delivered chairs and beds, there was an eerie feeling of anticipation, and like most things at the moment - uncertainty.

The health board says having these extra beds at Bluestone will Credit: ITV Wales

The high peak in numbers of patients predicted within the Hywel Dda Health Board area has yet to be seen, and on Thursday the Chief Executive praised the general public for adhering to the strict lockdown measures, but does that mean all this effort and money will go to waste?

Bluestone said it remains closed to holiday makers until Friday 29 May. Credit: Bluestone National Park

Like other projects across Wales, this one will cost a substantial amount, and questions have been raised over who will pay for it all, and who will pay to reinstate the holiday park once facilities are no longer needed.

But the Chief Executive of Bluestone, William Mcnamara said: "Costs I think are put to one side in a situation like this."

"At some stage all of this will have to be taken out and it will have to be reinstated, but what price do you put on lives?"

Dr Phil Kloer, the Medical Director and Deputy Chief Executive at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said having these extra beds at Bluestone will "be essential" over the coming weeks to help "manage patient flow".

Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli, has also been converted and will offer 350 extra beds and was handed over to the health board on Wednesday.

During a press conference on Wednesday, the health minister said the total cost of setting up the temporary hospitals around Wales were being assessed and the details will be published when that information is available.