The visitor, who described the conditions as “absolutely disgusting,” claimed the floor was “filthy with pee,” several toilets were out of order, and there was “no toilet paper” available. They said a patch of mould had also formed in the corner of the room.

Renewed scrutiny over hygiene standards at Royal Gwent Hospital (Image: Submitted)

It was alleged that the fungal growth was still present six hours later when they left the hospital.

The Royal Gwent Hospital, one of South Wales’ largest healthcare facilities, has faced increasing scrutiny in recent months following reports of overcrowding, patient discomfort, and “corridor care” practices.

It comes just weeks after reports that a cancer patient was forced to spend the night sitting in a “cupboard” due to a shortage of beds one of several recent complaints highlighting mounting pressure on the health board’s facilities.

In response to the latest incident, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board issued a statement acknowledging that conditions in one of the hospital’s toilets had “fallen below the standards expected.”

A spokesperson said:

“We are extremely disappointed that the condition of one of the patient toilets in the Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) at the Royal Gwent Hospital recently fell below the standards we expect to provide for our patients, visitors, and staff.

We undertake regular cleaning and maintenance checks across all facilities, and we are currently reviewing why this issue was not escalated and addressed sooner. This particular issue has now been resolved and we are assessing whether additional work is needed in that specific toilet to prevent recurrence.

We can confirm that all toilets in the Medical Assessment Unit are currently operational. If any toilet becomes unusable, it is promptly reported and prioritised for repair.”

While the Health Board has apologised for isolated cases and said it remains committed to maintaining safe and hygienic conditions, this latest discovery has raised fresh concerns about ongoing maintenance and infection control within the hospital.