Huge rebuild of asbestos hospital

Glan Clwyd Hospital at Bodelwyddan was opened in 1980

A major Welsh hospital riddled with asbestos will be rebuilt at a cost of up to £300m, Health Minister Edwina Hart has announced.

Glan Clwyd Hospital at Bodelwyddan, near Rhyl, will be rebuilt on the same site because officials say it does not meet fire safety standards.

She also announced breast care services will stay at Llandudno Hospital, Conwy.

Ms Hart said the services at the hospital were guaranteed there for the foreseeable future.

"The current breast care service should remain at Llandudno for the foreseeable future while further work and advice is provided on a model of breast care services in North Wales," she said.

Ms Hart made the announcement about rebuilding Glan Clwyd Hospital on a visit to Rhyl.

She also announced a new GP centre in the town, which will care for 17,000 patients.

The new building will be on the present site of the hospital, which was designed in the 1960s, built in the 70s and opened in 1980.

It will cost between £200m - £300m to rebuild.

The building has been described as having structural problems which do not meet today's requirements, but is said not to be unsafe to staff, patients or the public.

A senior health official has said previously that there are only risks if the asbestos is disturbed.