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Crumbling hospital must be rebuilt - trust boss

BBC Man in hospital bed, only his arm is visible. There is a hole in the wall behind him, through which plaster and lath is clearly visibleBBC
Some walls in patients' rooms have holes in them

The boss of one of London's biggest hospital trusts has asked the government to support plans for new buildings in next week's Budget.

Prof Tim Orchard, chief executive at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said a new hospital in Paddington was "desperately" needed.

"Some of the buildings are 180 years old and we're still providing healthcare in them. It is not a sustainable position in the long term.

"St Mary's needs to be rebuilt."

A building sign and fence warning people to say away as the structure is unsafe
Parts of St Mary's have been shut while work is carried out to strengthen the structure

Imperial is one of four London trusts included in the New Hospital Programme, along with Hillingdon, St Helier and Whipps Cross. All will be watching the Budget closely.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting told BBC London that some may have to wait longer to get the new hospitals they want.

"We're still finalising the review, but I can say with some certainty there will be people who will be disappointed that it takes longer.

"At least we're being upfront and honest about that and are coming forward with a plan we can actually stick to."

Nadia Tavernier-Gustave, a nurse wearing a maroon tunic in a hospital corridor. She is facing to the right and looks serious
Lead nurse Nadia Tavernier-Gustave says she cannot give her staff adequate working conditions

One of those hoping for a rebuild at St Mary's is Nadia Tavernier-Gustave, the lead nurse for specialist medicine.

She showed BBC London around the Almroth Wright ward. It is not built for 21st-century care.

The corridors are too narrow for hospital beds so patients have to be transferred to trolleys to get on to the ward.

There's a slope from one end of the corridor to the other and holes in some of the walls.

One end of the corridor is in darkness because the lights have failed and need rewiring.

It is uncomfortably hot.

Ms Tavernier-Gustave said the nurses "are trying their best to give the best care they can possibly give", but it's in an environment that doesn't aid better health.

She added: "I want to be able to give the nurses good working conditions and I can't do that on this ward at the moment."

A scruffy exterior corner of the hospital with crumbling red bricks and rotten window frames
Many parts of the Victorian hospital are showing signs of disrepair

Many of the Victorian parts of the hospital are showing their age.

Several rooms on three floors of one block have been shut while work is done to strengthen the pillar holding them up.

One 30-bed ward had to be closed because the floor wasn't strong enough to hold the weight of hospital beds.

Prof Orchard had this plea ahead of the Budget: "Anyone who walks round St Mary's - and the secretary of state for health has walked round St Mary's - will see the need for a new hospital right there in front of them."

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