Hospital services ro relocate at end of week

llanblogger exclusive

 

Angry Assembly Member brands move as a "scandal"

 

 

* Services will move from Llangollen Hospital this week.

 

A number of health services currently based in Llangollen Hospital will be relocating at the end of this week.

 

That is the message from the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB).

 

llanblogger contacted the board earlier this week to ask for confirmation or otherwise of rumours that the hospital will close this week or early next as a result of being axed in a major shake-up of services proposed by BCUHB.

 

One suggestion had been that the final death knell would be sounded today (Thursday). 

And, indeed, some sources say the hospital is now closed to all intents and purposes, with services already operating from Llangollen Health Centre. 

 

The board statement says: "From Monday 11^th March all outpatient and dressings clinics, phlebotomy (blood sampling) and physiotherapy appointments that were previously based in the Hospital will be held in the Llangollen Health Centre, adjacent to the GP Surgery. The Health Centre is located on Regent Street, part of A5 road to Chirk.

"A Minor Injuries Service will also be available at this location, initially running from 9:00am to 3:30pm, Monday to Thursday, the same hours as apply in the Hospital at present.

 

"The Health Board and the GP surgery are working closely together to ensure that these services continue to be available in the town, in line with the commitments given by the Health Board during the recent consultation, until the new Primary Care Resource Centre is available.

"Director of Primary, Community and Mental Health Services Geoff Lang said: “The relocation of services to the Health Centre will help us to develop our collaboration with our partners in the Llangollen GP Practice, and we intend expanding some of these services over the coming months. 

 

"This is an important step towards the integrated care we want to be able to provide for the town and we are very grateful for the support and help of the Llangollen GPs and Health Board colleagues as we develop health services for the area.”

Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru’s AM for North Wales, said: “The decision to close Llangollen hospital before alternative provision has been put in place – whether a new care centre or enhanced home care – is a scandal.

 

"In the past few days, we’ve seen ambulance backlogs at the Maelor because of a shortage of beds, so where is the sense in prematurely closing Llangollen Hospital?

 

“I am also sceptical of when we will see a new health centre in Llangollen. I very much doubt one will be in place within two years as some of the health board’s cheerleaders have claimed.”