Health Minister Announces Way Forward On Services In North Wales

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Article Date: 21 Mar 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Breast care services to remain at Llandudno and proposals to redevelop Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.

Health Minister Edwina Hart today guaranteed the continued provision of breast care services at Llandudno Hospital for the foreseeable future and announced plans to redevelop Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.

The announcement follows reviews carried out into services provided at the hospitals.

Edwina Hart said:

"Last month, I announced that following the review into services at Llandudno Hospital and the recommendations it made, I would embark on a further round of discussions with relevant groups and organisations locally.

"Today I can confirm that, following these discussions, I have accepted the recommendations into further service enhancement at the hospital and for cardiac and stroke services to be relocated, in the longer term, elsewhere in North Wales.

"I will therefore be asking Conwy Local Health Board to take these recommendations forward in partnership with the NHS Trust, Community Health Council and local clinicians. Following my discussions with local clinicians, I have agreed that they will be fully involved in this process from the start as the LHB develops its action plan.

"I received a number of important representations from women patients, emphasising the advantages of single sex wards which Llandudno provides. The current breast care service should remain at Llandudno for the foreseeable future whilst further work and advice is provided on a model of breast care services in North Wales.

"Following discussions with clinicians, and in light of my acceptance of the recommendations for the future service enhancement of Llandudno Hospital, I am persuaded that further work needs to be done to explore the possibility that Llandudno could become a centre of excellence for breast care services.

"Overall, this means that Llandudno will boast an impressive range of services including a new rheumatology service, an extended gastroenterology service, increased day case surgery capacity and enhanced neurological services."

On the future of Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, she said:

"I am pleased to confirm that the building can continue to be used in its current form, subject to a number of caveats.

"In the short term, the Trust must address a number of issues affecting fire safety. However, longer term it is clear that the core of the existing hospital must be rebuilt. I have asked the Trust to submit proposals for redevelopment.

"In working towards this, I have made it clear that the Trust must undertake a comprehensive service modelling exercise, involving the other Trusts in North Wales and including primary and community care, and to take into account the various reviews into services in North Wales and looking at the requirement for a critical care centre."

A further announcement on the redevelopment of Ysbyty Glan Clwyd will be made following the submission of the proposals from the Trust.

Welsh Assembly Government Press Office
http://www.wales.gov.uk

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