* An artist's impression of the planned Llangollen health centre.
Last week’s damning report on the way the region’s health
board was being run and shock resignation of its two top figures does not seem
to have affected plans for a £5.5 million health centre in Llangollen.
That is the message from a press spokesperson for the Betsi
Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB).
A joint report by the Wales Audit Office and Healthcare
Inspectorate Wales, identified significant failings and major challenges
for the board.
As a result, chairman Professor Merfyn Jones and chief
executive Mary Burrows both announced their resignation.
In the wake of these developments, a number of people in
Llangollen began to question whether the town’s new health centre, costing an
estimated £.5.5 million will now go ahead.
Only a few weeks ago board officials took over the Town Hall
to present an exhibition of plans for the centre, which is to be built on the
site of the derelict former River Lodge in Mill Street to replace Llangollen
Cottage Hospital which was closed by the board earlier this year.
But a spokesperson for the board has now told llanblogger: “As far as we are aware,
there is no change to the plan.”
Last
week, the group Keep Llangollen Health Services said in a statement that the
joint report on BCUHB raised “serious questions” about the legitimacy of the
downgrading process which led to the axing of Llangollen Hospital.
The
statement added: "If the Health Minister wants to avoid a potential
catastrophe he must, as a matter of urgency, step in and suspend the current
downgrading and centralisation programme.
"These plans were nodded through without any challenge by the board members
in January. Their failure to scrutinise was glaring even to lay members like us.”
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