£1.7m revamp for Llandrindod Wells hospital given go-ahead

A new birthing centre is to be developed at Llandrindod Wells Memorial Hospital as part of a £1.7m investment by the Welsh Government to enhance the hospital. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The million pound investment will also see essential improvements made to the hospital building, including improvements to the roof and front elevation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The redeveloped midwife-led unit will offer the very best facilities for mothers and babies, while the inclusion of a birthing pool will increase birthing options for families. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The hospital will remain fully operational while the external upgrades are carried out and, despite the extensive maintenance required outside and the interior layout changes, for patients and staff it will be business as usual. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The original hospital at Llandrindod Wells was opened in 1881. This investment forms part of the first phase of wider refurbishment proposals totalling £5.3 million for essential hospital services on site, as part of the strategy to improve staff and patient environments while enhancing the long-term viability of the hospital. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Minister for Health and Social Services, Mark Drakeford, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This targeted investment by the Welsh Government will allow the Health Board to redevelop Llandrindod Wells Memorial Hospital, so that it continues to provide high quality health care services to people across Powys and beyond. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The redeveloped birthing centre at the hospital will provide modern facilities and a first rate patient environment for the foreseeable future. The investment is being allocated in a phased manner to enable most urgent parts of the scheme to proceed quickly.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Chair of Powys Teaching Health Board, Professor Vivienne Harpwood, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This development is very welcome. It is so important that mothers and babies throughout Powys have access to the best possible care in a modern midwife-led unit. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is also extremely encouraging that the investment will ensure that the fabric of this old hospital building in the heart of Powys remains sound and well-maintained for the future”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​