[Video: Katrina Garton]

THIS was the scene in Llandudno when oxygen tanks were emptied as part of the temporary hospital's planned decommissioning.

Venue Cymru was transformed into Ysbyty Enfys to treat Covid-19 patients.

Oxygen cloud at Llandudno’s Ysbyty Enfys. Picture: Martin Krol

Oxygen cloud at Llandudno’s Ysbyty Enfys. Picture: Martin Krol

Due to the low rates of Covid-19 in North Wales, the facility and oxygen system are no longer required.

An oxygen cloud was visible during the hospital decommissioning, which started on Tuesday (May 11).

Oxygen cloud at Llandudno’s Ysbyty Enfys. Picture: Martin Krol

Oxygen cloud at Llandudno’s Ysbyty Enfys. Picture: Martin Krol

Prior to the procedure, a spokesperson from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) said: "For safety reasons, the leased oxygen tanks cannot be transported away from the site with oxygen inside.

"This standard process of depressurisation may be noisy and, depending on the weather conditions, can take up to a few hours. An oxygen cloud will be visible from a distance, however we wanted to reassure the public that this is a controlled and safe procedure undertaken by the equipment owners."

Work to decomission Llandudnos Ysbyty Enfys begins. Picture: Katrina Garton

The work to close the hospital started on Tuesday, May 11. Picture: Katrina Garton

Venue Cymru along with Deeside Leisure Centre and Bangor University were handed over to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) in April 2020 to provide a combined 1,000 additional beds. This was in response to the pandemic.

Earlier this year, Mark Wilkinson, executive director of Planning and Performance, said: “Our three Rainbow Hospitals were established at the beginning of the pandemic to ensure that we were able to respond to the worst case scenario of our existing hospitals becoming overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients.

"All three hospitals have since been utilised as Covid-19 Mass Vaccination Centres, but we have only needed to provide inpatient care at Ysbyty Enfys Deeside."

Work to decomission Llandudno’s Ysbyty Enfys begins. Picture: Katrina Garton

Work to decomission Llandudno’s Ysbyty Enfys begins. Picture: Katrina Garton

The Mass Vaccination Centres at Ysbyty Enfys Deeside and Ysbyty Enfys Llandudno will be handed back by July 31.

A gradual decommission of Ysbyty Enfys Bangor started in April and will be completed by September.

Rod Taylor, director of Estates and Facilities at BCUHB, said: “Equipment from our three Rainbow Hospitals will be reallocated to support health board services across North Wales and will benefit our patients for many years to come.”