THE WELSH GOVERNMENT’s Helath Minister Mark Drakeford announced this week that the long-awaited £4.8m of funding for hospital buildings in Cardigan and Tregaron has been signed off.
The funding for the projects follows the submissions of business proposals by Hywel Dda Health Board and other partners. £1.8m will be spent on an integrated centre at Tregaron, to be operated jointly by Ceredigion Council, Hywel Dda Health Board and third-sector partners, including residential care, intermediate care beds and other services. £3m will be spent to begin construction of the replacement for Cardigan Hospital.
Elin Jones, Plaid Cymru AM for Ceredigion, said: “We’ve waited a long time for these investments. I remember the campaigns in 2006, when both Cardigan and Tregaron hospitals were under threat. The journey since then has been long and, at times, tortuous, but this announcement means that construction work should begin on both sites in 2016.
“In Cardigan, I’m still of the view that provision needs to be made for in-patient beds at the new building, but the investment will still bring together a wide range of services in a modern, purpose-built centre. At Tregaron, there’s a real chance to pioneer the delivery of integrated services in a rural context with the Cylch Caron partnership between the Health Board, Ceredigion Council and the third sector.
“Healthcare close to people’s communities is crucial to how I see the NHS developing for the future. People in both Cardigan and Tregaron have had to fight hard for their areas, but I look forward to 2016 being the year where we see the plans come off the drawing board and begin to take shape on site.”
Ceredigion Lib Dem councillor Mark Cole commented on the news by saying: “It is very pleasing news that the assembly has signed off on the funding for the new Cardigan Hospital after many many years of waiting and delays from the assembly. My only concern remains that the detail of services to be provided does not include any beds and that is a campaign that will continue to be fought for.”
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