Trouble-hit mental health hospital will take until 2025 to repair, say health chiefs

Work to sort a slew of fire safety woes, roof defects and plumbing issues is continuing at Roseberry Park mental health hospital, in Middlesbrough, part of the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust (TEWV), which also serves Hartlepool and other parts of the Tees Valley.

A 2019 probe in the wake of the troubles warned rectification work “may take four to five years” at the Marton Road site.

Now chiefs at TEWV have revealed repairs are forecast to run until 2025.

A trust spokeswoman called the remediation required “very significant”.

She added: “Patient and staff safety is a key concern and we are addressing the remedial works required in a way to ensure that those using the Roseberry Park Hospital site are impacted as little as possible.

“Work so far has included the installation of a mist fire suppression system, the re-provision of a 300 space car park, the building of a 28 bed decant block and work is ongoing with the rectifications to the first two of the ward blocks on site.”

The hospital opened in 2011 but problems came to light in the following years.

A review by the Tees Valley joint health scrutiny committee found gaps around fire doors, poor quality flooring and missing wall supports in the site’s Westerdale ward.

The probe also pointed to problems with heating, hot and cold water, guttering, locks and keys, windows, and CCTV – as well as drainage problems, “laundry issues” and TV reception.

The extent of the trouble was such that Tees, Esk, and Wear Valleys NHS Trust (TEWV) took Three Valleys Healthcare Limited (TVH) to court in 2018 and won a legal battle to terminate its £321million contract with the PFI provider.

Separate legal wrangling is continuing to claw back repair costs – but the trust says the process has had no impact on the remedial works.

A trust spokeswoman added: “As part of the processes resulting from the termination of the PFI contract for the hospital, the trust is looking to have the full cost of the rectification works taken into account.

“No dates have yet been set, although dates for the next stage in the process are under consideration.

“Mediation is under consideration.

“Should this not be possible or not be successful an application will be made to the court for directions on how to progress matters.”

In the meantime, TEWV has apologised to patients, carers, families and staff inconvenienced by the repair programme.

A spokeswoman added: “It is our aim to ensure that the majority of patients are cared for within their own locality and we are sorry that occasionally due to service pressures – and in some case clinical need – a small number of people may need to be admitted to services elsewhere within the trust’s estate.”

Support your Mail and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest on Pools and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.