Hospital's 'critical' rotting roof fixed a year on

Work to replace the Princess of Wales Hospital roof was part of a £30m spend on the site

Nearly a year after a critical incident was declared at a hospital in south Wales due to a rotting roof, repairs has now been completed.

Rain water was entering the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend forcing the entire first floor to be evacuated and patient appointments to be moved to new locations.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board said it spent £30m replacing the roof and making a number of other refurbishments across the site.

It apologised for the inconvenience to patients and staff, but said the work was done in an "unprecedented time".

When experts inspected the roof of the Princess of Wales hospital last October, they found an immediate risk to patients.

A critical incident was declared and the entire first floor - including the intensive care unit (ICU) - was evacuated.

Almost overnight, Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board lost 10 wards, eight theatre spaces and had to relocate the ICU at a time of huge pressure on Welsh hospitals to tackle lengthy waiting lists.

Alongside the brand new roof, the health board said the hospital's main theatre suite underwent a "major upgrade".

There was also ward refurbishments, including better windows in cardiology to "improve efficiency and patient comfort".

The intensive care unit was refurbished, and three theatres and a 28-bed ward was added to orthopaedics.

The majority of services have now returned to the hospital, the health board added.