BBC News NI Health Correspondent, Marie-Louise Connolly, reports that patients with serious psychiatric conditions may need to be relocated temporarily due to extensive repairs required at the Acute Mental Health Inpatient center in Belfast. The facility, located in the grounds of Belfast City Hospital, offers 74 acute mental health en-suite bedrooms, which include six psychiatric intensive care beds. Concerns have been raised regarding rot and black mold found on floors and walls within the building, which led to the conclusion that the building is not suitable for its intended purpose.
The Belfast Trust has confirmed that investigatory work has been completed in two bedrooms to assess the damage caused by water ingress and determine the necessary remediation work. While both bedrooms remain closed, an interim bed has been made available at the facility, which continues to function without relocating any patients to other sites. Sources suggest that the repairs are estimated to cost up to £10m, highlighting the chronic nature of the problems within the building.
Reports indicate that the damage is extensive, with issues such as vinyl floors peeling, leaking vanity units in bedrooms, and chronic water leakage throughout the building. The building, constructed at a cost of £33m, caters to some of the most vulnerable mentally ill patients in Northern Ireland. Security concerns and patient privacy considerations have complicated repair efforts, leading the trust to explore alternative temporary accommodation options.
The construction of the Acute Mental Health Inpatient center was overseen by Graham BAM Healthcare Partnership (GBHP), the same entity involved in the construction of Belfast’s over-budget maternity hospital. The ongoing building issues have raised questions about accountability within the health trust management and the Department of Health. The trust is currently addressing safety concerns highlighted by the RQIA, including ligature risks, and continues to work on action plans to manage the identified issues
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