Mental Health inspection highlights ongoing safety and environmental concerns at Royal Glamorgan Hospital

The inspection took place over three days in April 2026 and focused on the quality of care across Ward 21, Ward 22 and the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), which provides care for patients with the most acute mental health needs.

Inspectors found that staff treated people with kindness, respect and compassion, and patients reported positive experiences of care. Patients were supported by strong clinical processes, including thorough assessments, regular reviews of wellbeing and timely access to healthcare services. Care and Treatment Plans and individual safety plans were comprehensive and regularly reviewed, and effective processes were in place to support safeguarding, care planning and multidisciplinary team working.

However, the inspection also identified a range of significant concerns affecting patient safety and the quality of care. HIW used its immediate assurance process to seek assurances from the health board in relation to significant environmental, infection prevention and control, and workforce safety concerns. These included environmental issues across all wards, such as damage to fixtures and fittings, infection prevention and control risks, and unresolved ligature risks where patients could potentially harm themselves. Estates records highlighted multiple unresolved urgent and high-risk maintenance issues, alongside longstanding concerns and capacity pressures within estates services.

Inspectors also identified low compliance with key safety-critical mandatory training, including life support, restraint, moving and handling, and fire safety. No staff had completed training in the safe use of portable oxygen cylinders, and inspectors were unable to confirm whether untrained staff had been involved in restraint incidents. Similar concerns were identified during a previous HIW inspection in 2023, indicating that risks previously escalated had not been effectively mitigated or sustained over time. These findings reduced assurance that staff were consistently equipped to respond safely in high-risk situations. 

Patients reported difficulties accessing therapeutic activities, outdoor space and some basic facilities. Inspectors found no structured programme of therapeutic activities across the wards, a vacant Activities Coordinator post and no dedicated occupational therapy support for patients in the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit. Issues relating to mixed gender accommodation and shared bedrooms on Wards 21 and 22 continued to affect patient privacy, safety and dignity.

HIW has set out clear expectations for improvement and will continue to monitor the health board's progress in implementing and sustaining the required actions to ensure that patients receive care in an environment that is safe, dignified and supports their wellbeing.

Alun Jones, Chief Executive of Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, said:

“Our inspection revealed that direct care is delivered by staff in a compassionate way with patients commenting positively on it. However, the health board has not sustained improvements previously made in relation to significant issues, and long‑standing estates and environmental risks remain. Whilst these are not isolated findings, and reflect issues we continue to see across mental health settings in Wales, we expect the health board to take sustained action to address these concerns and ensure patients receive safe, high‑quality care.”