Plans for £14.6 million residential care home in Gwynedd move closer

The “heart-breaking situation” where Gwynedd residents have to seek care miles away from their homes and families whilst at their most vulnerable could soon come to an end.

Gwynedd Council is pushing ahead with a £14.6 million scheme to build a brand new residential care home on the Llŷn Peninsula.

The new home with about 60 beds, would cater for residential dementia, nursing and respite care and support.

The new health and social care home development would be located on the site of the old Polish Home, at Penyberth, Penrhos.

The original Penrhos home, run by the local Polish community, closed in 2020, due to dwindling numbers and deterioration of the building.

Cyngor Gwynedd’s cabinet recently voted to press on with a bid for cash from Welsh Government to fund the new care project.

Discussions are already underway with the government to remodel the area’s care sector

Two acres of land at Penyberth, Penrhos, would be transferred to the council by Clwyd Alyn Housing Association for the scheme.

The council’s adults, health and wellbeing department will now present a business case.

It will request funds from the Health and Social Care Integration and Rebalancing Capital Fund (IRCF), for the project, in partnership with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB).

In July 2022, Cyngor Gwynedd and BCHUB agreed a formal partnership to provide nursing home placements in Gwynedd  to “enhance and stabilise” the area’s nursing care provision.

While the council is a significant provider of residential care, many nursing homes in Gwynedd are operated by independent or third sector providers.

Councillor Dilwyn Morgan, Cyngor Gwynedd’s cabinet member with responsibility for the adult’s, health and wellbeing department, said: “Ensuring local people have the care they deserve close to home is a priority.

“A local, sustainable, and high-quality provision of care homes is an essential part of any health and care system. Without this, people are missing out on the health and wellbeing opportunities which should be available to all.

“Unfortunately, there is a dire shortage of nursing home spaces across the county, felt more acutely in the Llŷn with no provision at all for publicly funded spaces.

“Proportionally, more people from Llŷn have to travel further away to get the right nursing care.

“It’s a heart-breaking situation whereby only suitable places for people when they are at their most vulnerable is miles away from home, families and all that’s dear to them.”

He added it was also “more difficult” to ensure Welsh-language services which often “compounded” the situation for some.

Councillor Dilwyn Morgan added the project was “good news” for the  community and could provide permanent, high-skilled jobs.

Ffion Johnstone, west integrated health community director at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board welcomed the “exciting initiative” and looked forward on planning of the development the next phase of the scheme, with the council.

Officers will now develop designs and plans to be submitted in autumn 2024, with construction work expected to start the year after.

Council leader Dyfrig Siencyn said: “I look forward immensely to see this development progress. We have been discussing the site for some years and seeing movement in our plans is great news.

“The development will support not only the residents of Llŷn ac Eifionydd, but also the residents of Meirionnydd who need dementia care.”

Councillor Dafydd Meurig of Arllechwedd said: “What we are doing in Llanbedrog is revolutionary. I am, immensely proud of this approach and the development planned for the Penyberth site.”

By Dale Spridgeon – Local Democracy Reporter