CARMARTHENSHIRE’S two main hospitals, Glangwili and Prince Philip, could receive more than £200m in investment as part of a larger plan to transform health services across West Wales, according to the Hywel Dda University Health Board. The Health Board has proposed ambitious plans of £1.3bn to overhaul healthcare in the region, with a goal to build a new hospital in either the St Clears or Whitland area by 2029.
The proposed plans include modernising Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli, with an estimated £109m to be spent on improvement works. Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen could potentially be repurposed or rebuilt, with an estimated figure of £210m to £284m to be shared between it and Haverfordwest’s Withybush Hospital. Both hospitals would become community hospitals with a focus on “patients who do not need to be in an acute setting but need support”, and would be run by GPs. The hospitals would house a minor injuries unit, outpatient clinics, and midwife-led units.
The proposed plans have been described as a “once-in-a-generation” bid for health and care investment for the region by the chair of the Health Board, Maria Battle, who is set to retire later this year. Llanelli campaigners have welcomed the investment in Prince Philip Hospital, with the Save Our Services Prince Philip Action Network (Sosppan) expressing gratitude to Hywel Dda for listening to their requests for continued investment in the hospital.
Lee Davies, the Health Board’s executive director of strategy and planning, confirmed that the proposed business case includes plans for the new hospital, with the goal of securing funding from Welsh Government. Further detailed work will be undertaken by the Health Board to refine the proposals and costs as they progress through the business case process. However, Mr Davies has confirmed that, should the plans for the new hospital go ahead, acute services will move to the new site. Glangwili will still need to provide therapy and nurse-led beds, GP-led urgent care services, outpatient services, and diagnostic support to ensure that patients can access care locally.
