Calls for clarity over nine-year delay to North Denbighshire Community Hospital plans

Fresh calls have been made for an update on plans for a new community hospital in the north of Denbighshire.

The Welsh Government announced back in 2013 that a new facility would be built in Rhyl to serve the area.

With the scheme yet to be delivered, Clwyd West MS Darren Millar called for an urgent statement from Welsh Health Minister Eluned Morgan in July.

He was told that there was “no space in government time” before the end of the Senedd term for a statement to be made.

Mr Millar revealed he has still yet to receive a response outlining when, or if, the development will get underway three months later.

With concern mounting that the promised hospital will “be quietly scrapped by the Welsh Government”, the Conservative MS again called for an update yesterday.

Speaking in a business statement, he said: “Can I call for a statement from the Minister for Health and Social Services, to provide an update to members on the delivery of the North Denbighshire Community Hospital?

“This has been a long-awaited project that was announced by the current First Minister back in 2013.

“He said that he hoped a brand-new hospital would be delivered by 2016 at that point, but we’re going to be at least 10 years on from the now First Minister’s announcement before we even see a spade in the ground.

“Many people are concerned that this project is going to be quietly scrapped by the Welsh Government, and are concerned about the lack of commitment from the current Health Minister. I think that people need some clarity on this.

“They were promised these beds because of the closure of the community hospital beds in Prestatyn and Rhyl, and it has a direct impact on the services provided at Glan Clwyd Hospital, which has an emergency department that is under extreme pressure.

“This project is essential in order to relieve pressure on that hospital and make sure that it gets back up to scratch in terms of the way that it should be functioning for patients in north Wales.

“When will we have a statement, and when can we expect that hospital to be delivered, as was promised by the current First Minister?”

The Trefnydd Lesley Griffiths MS replied: “There are no plans for a statement in the current half term in relation to the capital programme for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

“I know the health board itself is having a look at its capital programme right across north Wales, so I would imagine that would be part of it.”

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Millar said: “It is an absolute disgrace that patients have had to wait so long and may now even miss out completely on this much needed facility.

“To leave them hanging without any clear indication as to what will be happening is totally unacceptable.

“Health services in North Wales are in a shocking state, with Glan Clwyd Hospital at capacity.

“This new hospital could relieve so many pressures and provide the people in north east Conwy and Denbighshire with the health services they desperately need and deserve. We need answers and we need them now.”