PLANS for an inpatient mental health unit of “world class” caliber and a multi-story parking structure at Glan Clwyd Hospital have been made public.
Before a complete planning application is submitted to Denbighshire County Council in March, the public is encouraged to provide feedback on the proposed designs for the new 63-bed unit and multi-story parking garage by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The hospital’s Ablett Complex and the older people’s mental health inpatient facility at Bryn Hesketh, Colwyn Bay, will be replaced by the new unit, which might cost up to £84.5 million.
The plans were created after extensive consultation with patients, caregivers, staff, partner organizations, and the general public.
It will provide more beds and vastly improved facilities for both staff and patients because it is located at the back of the hospital complex.
The Health Board has plans for a 13-bed dementia care assessment unit and a 14-bed older person’s mental health ward, all of which have en suite bathrooms and space for families and caregivers to spend the night with their loved ones.
There will also be two newly constructed adult wards with 16 beds each and de-stimulation rooms, which will offer high-acuity patients a secure nursing environment and avoid the need for transfers to other mental health facilities.
More outdoor and therapeutic space, greater staff and family amenities, and an assessment suite are also included to allow qualified patients to be relocated from the Emergency Department in a timely way.
The development, which was constructed to the highest energy efficiency standards, will aid in the Welsh Government’s response to the climate emergency.
The planning committee of Denbighshire County Council turned down an application for outline planning permission on a site southwest of the hospital grounds in 2021, citing an unacceptably negative impact on nearby homes.
In response to these worries, the Health Board moved to a new location that is far from the limits of nearby residents, within the footprint of car park 5 at the back of the hospital.
In order to replace the parking spaces lost when the new mental health facility is erected, a first-floor deck above Car Park 3 will be constructed, equipped with electric vehicle charging stations.
Other ideas, such as reintroducing the Park and Ride program if adequate off-site parking can be found, are also being investigated to improve how staff, patients, and visitors reach the hospital site.
The Health Board is also looking into ways to use agile and home working, car share, public transportation, and increased use of video and internet technologies for remote consultations, when appropriate, as part of ongoing efforts to decrease the carbon footprint of its activities.
Teresa Owen, Executive Director responsible for BCUHB’s Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Division, said: “Our aspiration is to deliver a world class facility that enables our hard working staff to deliver the highest standards of care that our patients deserve in a modern, fit-for-purpose environment.
“We’re keen to hear people’s feedback and I encourage them to visit the Health Board website or attend our drop in session to view the plans and let us know what they think.”
In October 2022, the Welsh Government approved BCUHB’s Outline Business Case for the development.
Subject to further approval from Denbighshire County Council’s Planning Committee, the BCUHB Board, and Welsh Government, work on site should commence in the summer of 2024, with the building accepting its first patients in the summer of 2026.
Subject to further approval from Denbighshire County Council’s Planning Committee, the BCUHB Board, and Welsh Government, work on site should commence in the summer of 2024, with the building accepting its first patients in the summer of 2026.
The plans are available to view on the BCUHB website. People are encouraged to send feedback in via email, or by completing the online survey by March 5.
A drop in event will be held at the Faenol Fawr Hotel on 27 February, between 2-8pm, where members of the public can come and view the plans and chat to those involved in developing them.
