Ruthin Community Hospital transformed into health and wellbeing hub following £4m makeover

A £4m investment has seen a community hospital transformed into a health and wellbeing hub.

Ruthin Community Hospital, which has stood in the town for 117 years, has undergone major changes during the process.

It means residents in the area will see a range of medical and community services melded into one centre, giving people around Ruthin and beyond a “one-stop-shop” for their health and wellbeing.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s (BCUHB) clinical director of therapies, Gareth Evans, praised the project team for their work in developing the new-look site, despite the interruption of the pandemic.

He said: “The project has been a fantastic partnership between BCUHB and key stakeholders such as Denbighshire county council, the Welsh Ambulance service and Ruthin Community Hospital League of Friends.

“It will provide many community benefits which will improve outcomes for the local population for many years to come.”

As part of the integration of local services, Mount Street Clinic GP practice and dispensary has moved to the 27-bed Llanrhydd Street site and will start holding appointments there from today (Monday, November 22).

A newly built extension was created for the practice on the site of the hospital’s former physiotherapy unit.

This now allows space to support multi-disciplinary working and training, including for medical students.

The hospital provides step-up and step-down beds as well as district nursing, therapies, outpatients and memory clinic, which creates a base for medical student teaching.

According the to health board, research shows GPs who train in a particular area remain loyal to it, with one example being BCUHB’s current executive medical director Dr Nick Lyons who trained as a GP in North Wales.

In addition, the new site will enable the practice to extend its range of services, such as minor surgery and contraception.

Primary care mental health services including counselling will also be available on the hospital site.

Gareth Evans added: “As project director I’m delighted our goal to re-provide services from the Mount Street clinic in Ruthin has been realised.

“From Monday, November 22, a range of primary care and community services in the Ruthin locality will be provided from modern, fit-for-purpose premises at Ruthin Hospital, providing a greatly enhanced patient experience for the local population.”

Mount Street Clinic was unable to expand or develop due to the limitations of its ageing premises, so Denbighshire county council agreed to a land swap.

The local authority gave the community hospital some of its land adjacent to the Ruthin Community Hospital site, in return for the Mount Street premises.

The local League of Friends has also been instrumental in funding a new reception area, tea bar and relatives room, with an investment of almost £50,000.

Morfudd Jones, chair of Ruthin Hospital League of Friends said it was a “privilege” to donate money towards the upgraded facilities.

She added: “Praise must be given to all involved. Our staff at the hospital give us a wonderful service and we thank them for their hard work during this difficult time with Covid and during the building works.

“The community hospital is a great asset to the town, may it provide excellent service to the area for many years to come.”

Staff member Maxine Jones said she was proud of the upgraded hospital and revealed a closer association to the site than many of her colleagues.

She said: “I’ve worked at Ruthin Community Hospital for 34 years as a domestic and I was born in this hospital in 1963.

“I’ve seen some real changes and I used to come here when I worked for St John’s. I love what they’ve done to the hospital now. It’s a real transformation and doing it during Covid is excellent.”