The Department is involved in a large number of new construction projects including numerous developments at Ysbyty Gwynedd and elsewhere. It is responsible for managing and maintaining 63 properties and providing services such as portering and catering throughout the Trust. It is also responsible for managing the cleaning services at all Trust premises.

Responsibilities include:

Well maintained buildings, a clean and attractive environment backed by reliable equipment and services are important for the well-being of patients as well as the staff who provide their varied treatments.

At the heart of all this is the Works Operational Services Department, which provides a full maintenance service for all the Trust's assets.

The Trust is quite large - covering a total internal floor area of over 132,000 square meters within 63 properties. There are a number of health centres, clinics and mental health resource facilities in addition to thirteen hospitals to manage.

The Estates and Facilities Department is staffed by 480 workers which includes those working on new buildings and projects and those involved in maintenance work which goes on in the background 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In addition the department runs all “hotel services” including the domestic staff, porters, and catering.

The department includes staff involved in technical support, design, contract management, and direct works which comprises of three major elements - planned preventative maintenance, non-planned maintenance (helpdesk response) and other minor works.

A large and rural area

This all happens in a largely rural area. The maintenance on the community side is carried out by two teams, one from a base at Bryn y Neuadd Hospital in Llanfairfechan to cover Llandudno General Hospital, the north of Gwynedd and Anglesey and another from a base at Bron y Garth Hospital in Penrhyndeudraeth to cover Arfon, Dwyfor and Meirionnydd.

Through our helpdesk, the supervisors deal with requests from far and wide in the Trust for repairs and replacements and fill in service sheets which are provided for the craftsmen to carry out the work as specified.

Constantly updating

The department is responsible for the maintenance of electrical and kitchen appliances, sterilisation equipment, medical and dental appliances and we may not realise that something as simple as a bed or a bath are all specialised equipment which have to be maintained.

The Department works to maintain the high standards in order to meet the health requirements of today. Buildings quickly become out of date, and we have to keep them functionally suitable and make sure that the estate is continually moving forward.

Projects currently being undertaken by the Trust include: