A MEMBER of the Senedd for North Wales has welcomed progress from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on the redevelopment of the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Rhyl, Denbighshire.
Plans for the redevelopment of the hospital were first revealed back in 2013, but have been delayed a number of times as the estimated cost has continued to increase as a result of inflation and spiralling material costs.
After a meeting with the health board, Carolyn Thomas, MS for the North Wales region, welcomed updated proposals which will see the existing hospital building refurbished, as well as the construction of a new building which will seek to address social care need, and the provision of a minor injuries unit.
Carolyn Thomas said: “The Royal Alexandra Hospital redevelopment cannot be completed without the allocation of funds, and for too long, the project has been unable to progress because of austerity and a lack of funding from central government.
“It is incredibly encouraging that the new UK Government’s Autumn Budget has brought with it an increase in funding, including £253m of extra capital funding for Wales.”
Thomas continued: “I am calling for some of this capital funding to now be allocated to kickstarting the Royal Alexandra Hospital redevelopment, to finally bring this much needed capital improvement to fruition.
“Many of us over the years, including Denbighshire County Council Leader Jason McLellan, Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care Elen Heaton, and local ward Councillor Barry Mellor, as well as the MP for Clwyd North, Gill German, have been lobbying hard for investment into the Royal Alexandra. I am hopeful that the Autumn Budget will now make the redevelopment a much-welcomed reality.”
It is understood that the health board are currently working on a fully costed business case, which will be finalised and then presented to the Welsh Government next year.
Thomas concluded: “Investments in health infrastructure are vital, and often result in far more economic benefit than the initial outgoing cost for construction. A healthier and happier population is a more productive one, and productivity is the basis for economic growth.”
