Plans to build a brand new integrated care centre for the people of Cardigan have been given the green light by the Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething.
Formal agreement for the Cardigan Integrated Care Centre has now been given with work on the old Bathhouse site due to start in spring 2018. The centre is expected to open in late 2019, due to £23.8m funding from the Welsh Government which is part of the Welsh Government’s two-year budget agreement with Plaid Cymru.
As well as providing a modern, fit for purpose healthcare service for the local population including a GP practice, dental service and pharmacy, the new centre will bring care closer to home and in the community.
A wide range of improved integrated health and social care services will be delivered by Hywel Dda UHB, the third sector, local authority and partner organisations.
The local community will also benefit from;
- Mental health and learning disabilities services
- Minor Injury Service with telemedicine links to the Emergency Department
- potential for an increase in 7 day service provision
- increased diagnostic services including pre-operative assessments
- improved outcomes for patients.
Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething said:
“I’m pleased to announce the funding for the Cardigan Integrated Care Centre which will make a significant difference to the care people in the Cardigan area receive, closer to home in their communities.
“It’s imperative that people are treated in modern centres and this project will facilitate an improved, integrated approach to healthcare in the community, all under one roof.”
Hywel Dda County Director for Ceredigion, Peter Skitt said:
“We acknowledge that the planning process has at times been quite protracted and drawn-out but it’s been absolutely critical for the project in terms of making sure that we’ve got it right first time, and I would like to reiterate our thanks to stakeholders - particularly local residents, patients and our staff - for their patience and understanding.”
Chair of Hywel Dda University Health Board, Bernardine Rees OBE, added:
“We recognise that the population of Cardigan has been very patient and this facility has definitely had its challenges, but the health board are now very pleased to be moving forward with this important development.
“I would like to pay tribute to everyone involved for their ongoing commitment and hard work to ensure the new centre meets our aim of providing safe, sustainable, integrated care for our local population.
“We are grateful to Welsh Government for providing formal agreement to the Cardigan ICC project.This represents the culmination of several years’ worth of work to ensure that we are able to care for patients in Cardigan in a safe, sustainable and integrated way by providing a facility that is fit for purpose both now and for the future”.