Updated 8th March 2023
New Mid Wales Health Facility
After many years of campaigning, a new hospital and health facility will be located in Newtown and will work side-by-side with the current network of community hospitals in Machynlleth, Llanidloes and Welshpool and district general hospitals around our borders, to ensure that we receive the right treatment much closer to home.
The campaign now moves to urging for works to begin at pace. In the Senedd, I have raised the potential new Health facility with the First Minister, Mark Drakeford MS. I had also raised the need for a new health facility in our area with the previous First Minister of Wales.
Powys Teaching Health Board had submitted plans for a new facility with the Welsh Government and I am delighted that so far, the initial stages have been accepted.
As someone who has actively been supporting these proposals for a new health facility to support north Powys residents over many years, it is fantastic to receive the great news that the project is moving forward, and I will continue to work with the health board and the Welsh Government to progress the new health facility. The new hospital and facility will improve health and wellbeing services in our area, with enhanced health checks and appointments being offered locally, rather than having to travel out of county.
New Emergency Service Provision in Shrewsbury
In August 2022, the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England’s Joint Investment Committee approved plans in principle for the future of Shropshire’s healthcare services.
This decision is a significant step which will see emergency (A&E) services strengthened in Shrewsbury and this is following years of debate and campaigning over Shropshire's hospitals.
This will mean that the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital will specialise in Emergency Care and The Princess Royal Hospital in Telford will become a Planned Care centre. Both sites will have a 24-hour Urgent Care centre.
The plans will vastly reduce current A&E waiting times at both hospitals, as well as ambulance turnaround periods.
This will be positive for us in Mid Wales as we will see improved life-saving emergency healthcare located in Shrewsbury. The services planned are more significant than a standard A&E department, with the benefits of improved funding. These plans also mean the return of the women and children’s consultant-led inpatient service return to Shrewsbury.
I think it is also important to point out that both hospitals will continue to provide adult and children outpatient services and diagnostic tests as well as a 24-hour Urgent Care Centre, Day Case Renal Unit and Midwife-led unit.
I’m very clear that it is also essential that some planned care is delivered locally in our local community hospitals in Llanidloes, Newtown, Welshpool and Machynlleth, to prevent the need to travel out of county to see a consultant. We need to see the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust work in partnership with Powys Teaching Health Board to achieve this going forward.
Plans to redevelop services at both Shrewsbury and Telford hospitals have been long-awaited, and this approval will enable the Trust to move to the next stage of its transformation programme. The programme will overhaul the Trust’s health services, enable it to continue to confront its challenges and makes necessary reforms to attract top class consultants and clinicians.
It has taken far too long for us to reach this point, but I welcome the progress made and encourage the Trust and health services to continue working to deliver this transformation.
I am hugely encouraged by these decisions. It is imperative that the remaining investment is granted as soon as possible to allow construction to begin imminently, and I will continue to push for this to be completed at pace.
Bro Ddyfi Community Hospital
This new development will provide a base for health, local authority and third sector teams to work together in a community ‘hub’ which improves access to health and social care, wellbeing, prevention, and health promotion facilities for Machynlleth and the Dyfi Valley.
The Health Board and their commercial partners have faced a significant impact from Coronavirus, which has in turn affected the progress on redevelopment of Bro Ddyfi Community Hospital, but I am now pleased to see building work in full flow. Visible changes are now taking place and I am pleased to see that the main building is now weatherproof and that the internal fitting can now begin to take place. There is going to be a new dining room that will become a café for patients, staff and families where they will be able to relax with a tea or coffee and can even have some food whilst waiting.
Internally, the area will be a much-needed modern looking hospital and will be an innovative hub which will make patients and staff feel more comfortable. Externally, the stone wall has been finished and completed with a plaque showcasing the roman numerals ‘MMXXII’ which aims to be a tribute to the new hub. There is going to be a sensory garden which will feature plants and selected garden materials with the aim of creating an environment which will help benefit well-being. Alongside the new sensory garden, there will also be features such as Solar Panels and Electrical Charging Points for cars.
I look forward to the completion of the project.