Sofas replace beds as Belfast mental health centre battles ongoing building faults

Patients with serious psychiatric conditions at Belfast's Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre are still sleeping on sofas months after major building problems were identified at the facility. The centre opened about six years ago at a cost of £33 million and provides 74 acute mental health en-suite bedrooms, including six psychiatric intensive care beds.

Rot and black mould were found in the building and a string of leaks have continued, with the entire water system now planned for replacement that could add millions to repair costs. Water had been dripping from pipes since 2022, causing corrosion in the hot water system and damage to walls and floors. One bedroom previously had an ant infestation and was closed immediately.

In March, BBC reporting indicated that repair costs could reach up to £10 million. Last month the Belfast Health Trust said the projected costs for the newly discovered water system issues were up to £6 million, not including legal fees. Two bedrooms that had suffered damage were due to be repaired by the end of this summer. As a result of their closure, capacity at the unit has been stretched, leading to patients sleeping on sofas. The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust said no patients have had to move out because of the issues, and the works on the two damaged bedrooms were almost complete and expected to be available for service in the coming days.

Plans to rehome patients were put in place, with Knockbracken Healthcare Park south of Belfast identified as a temporary option. That facility has not yet been used. The trust is taking legal advice over where liability for the building failures lies. The centre was built by Graham BAM Healthcare Partnership, a joint venture between Graham Construction and BAM Ireland. GBHP has also been involved in Belfast's new maternity hospital project, which remains unopened and significantly over budget. The Belfast Trust said it is currently working with its legal advisers to appoint independent specialists to undertake a comprehensive review of the water system and to help identify liability for the remediation costs. A survey of the entire building had taken place ahead of the repair works.

In August 2024, the regulator which inspects healthcare facilities, the RQIA, issued a notice to the trust to replace doors and door handles at the facility because of potential patient self-harm risks from ligature points. Compliance was due by 17 February this year, with an extension to April, and is now expected by November.

Two bedrooms that had suffered damage were described by the trust as almost complete and due to be available for service in the coming days, subject to final checks. The trust said the works on these bedrooms are nearing completion and will restore full service in due course.

Officials say the plan to rehome patients remains in place, and the broader issue highlights ongoing questions about the cost, liability and project management surrounding the facilities contract. The centre continues to operate, and no closure has been announced.