Swansea: Morriston Hospital heat and hot water restored

Image source, SOPA Images

Image caption, The hospital says it is doing "everything possible" to free up beds

Morriston Hospital in Swansea has come off its state of highest alert after heating and hot water were restored.

The hospital had declared a "business continuity incident" on Friday after a boiler breakdown, and had asked patients to avoid A&E if possible.

It had said it was also having to conserve its remaining heat and hot water, and had made sure that "extra blankets are available, if needed".

But Swansea Bay health board said later that heat and hot water were back on.

However, it added: "But please bear in mind that Morriston Hospital remains very busy as we head into the weekend, so please choose alternatives to the Emergency Department (A&E) if you or a loved one does not have a serious or life-threatening illness or injury."

What is a business continuity incident?

The term black alert is sometimes colloquially used to describe this highest escalation, but it is not officially used used by health boards.

Each of Wales' health boards has five levels of escalation which determine the pressure on its services.

Business continuity is the highest alert level a health board can declare but there are exceptional circumstances in which hospitals could declare major or critical incidents.