Multi-million-pound Llandudno Hospital redevelopment plans backed

Plans for the multi-million pound redevelopment of a hospital have been backed by health bosses.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board backed a business case to redevelop Llandudno Hospital during a board meeting on Thursday.

The proposals will see two new operating theatres built, while the hospital’s Aberconwy Ward will be refurbished.

The refurbishment will provide 19 beds for patients who need non-complex orthopaedic surgery who might need a short hospital stay – if funding is successful.

The business case for the multi-million-pound centre of excellence will now be considered by Welsh Government later this year.

If agreed, the theatres would be built outside the radiology department, allowing current Llandudno theatre activity to continue.

Speaking at the board meeting, interim chief executive Carol Shillabeer said it was “a great opportunity”.

The report put before the board claims the orthopaedic surgical hub and centre of excellence will result in increased activity levels, shorter waiting times, better patient outcomes, and improved service efficiency and resilience.

The hub is planned to open in the autumn of 2024.

Yesterday, board members converged on Llandudno’s Trinity Community Centre for the AGM where they were questioned by the public.

Llandudno town councillor Carol Marubbi, who is chairwoman of the Llandudno Hospital Action Group and an ex-NHS worker, spoke and said she was willing to give Betsi’s new board a chance following the health board being placed back in special measures in February when eleven board members quit.

She also said the hospital was owned by the people of Llandudno and had huge potential and welcomed the additional beds.

“It has huge potential. It was a general hospital paid for by the people of Llandudno, which lots of people don’t like to hear, but it was,” she said addressing the board.

“At the time, it was after the Second World War, and vouchers were still going on, and people were paying a penny a brick and sixpence if you were well off.

“The people of Llandudno are very passionate. I see great potential there. I have worked in the NHS. I’ve also been a social worker, so I know a bit about care. People come to us as the Hospital Action Group.

“We (Llandudno Hospital) amalgamated with a lot of community hospitals and lost beds, and we’ve seen the devastation of what is happening in the main hospitals now, which are choc o’ block, and they call it bed blocking, but I suppose you have a professional word for it,” she said.

“But we have these community hospitals which are up and running and they (the patients) could actually go there.

“So we are still fighting the fight for Llandudno Hospital.”

She added: “I believe there are new people on the board, and I give you (the board) a chance because that’s what we are hoping for.

“You’ve taken a lot of flack so I’m hoping now this new board will work magic for the communities who are desperate to get services.”

Also speaking at the AGM, interim chief executive Carol Shillabeer said: “In terms of the expansion at Llandudno and significant investment in orthopaedic services and possibly beyond that, I think this is great news for Llandudno.”

By Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter