A DAD has spoken of his shock at the condition of Basingstoke hospital’s maternity ward, where he found tape used as a makeshift seal for the windows and tiles falling from the ceiling.

Richard Cole and his wife Domi were given a private room in the Sherborne Building following the birth of their second child Reuben on February 18, who was suffering with jaundice and an infection.

The couple, from Oakridge, spent six days in the hospital after Reuben’s arrival, but were shocked by the condition of the building, where a video Richard took shows buckets lining the corridor to collect drips where tiles have come away from the ceiling.

Richard, 25, said: “I wasn’t going to do anything about it but the midwives pushed me towards saying something because they said no one is doing anything and it’s terrible.

“Our little man was on a hot-bed at first but the cold air came through the windows that had tape at the sides and magazines stuffed under them.”

The shift leader for Tesco said he and his wife were transferred to a ward, which also had the same problem, with blankets used to try and keep the cold out from the windows.

He also said the ceiling in the corridor was leaking after some tiles fell down, resulting in the area being shut off.

“There were buckets everywhere,” he said, adding: “In a feedback form I said everything is great with the midwives but the hospital building is terrible.”

The couple had a scare when Reuben was born, after Domi was induced at 37 weeks because of reduced movement, and he came out all floppy.

He spent a day in neonatal before being put on a hot-bed in the maternity ward with 24-year-old Domi.

The couple, who also have a two-and-a-half-year-old son, Reilly, were concerned that their poorly baby would suffer because of the draft coming through the windows.

“I was worried he could get cold. It wound me up,” said Richard.

The couple were allowed to go home on Sunday, February 23, only to return to the hospital, in Aldermaston Road, 16 hours later on the Monday because Reuben’s jaundice had worsened.

Richard said: “It was annoying having to go back in again. It wasn’t that bad for us, but it was more Reuben we were worried about, with him being on a hot-bed.

“I think they should be doing something to improve the situation. You don’t expect to see magazines squashed in to the window to keep out the cold and tape and towels. It’s definitely got worse in the last two-and-a-half years since we had our first.”

Alex Whitfield, chief executive of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, as well as hospitals in Andover and Winchester, said: “I am sorry for any inconvenience or discomfort that these maintenance issues caused this family during their time in our maternity unit. We have a rolling programme of maintenance and are working to resolve these issues as soon as possible.

“Our hospitals are much-loved and have done great service, but they were built many years ago and are now showing their age, which is why we are delighted that central government has awarded us Health Infrastructure funding. 

“We look forward to a time when we can provide a more modern environment, designed for the needs of our patients and staff both today and in the future.”