Palliative care unit set to open in summer
A STATE-OF-THE-ART unit for people with incurable cancer and other life-limiting conditions is set to be completed by next summer.
The eight-bed Y Bwthyn NGS Macmillan Specialist Palliative Care Unit, based close to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, will provide end-of-life care for patients in Rhondda and Taff Ely.
Designed by architects who specialise in palliative care buildings, the unit aims to provide a “comfortable and welcoming environment”.
It is being built by Cwm Taf University Health Board and Macmillan Cancer Support in partnership with the National Garden Scheme.
Cancer charity Macmillan is donating £5m towards the unit – £2.5m of which has been donated by the National Garden Scheme – with the additional £2m being given to the health board by the Welsh Government through its All Wales Capital Programme.
Richard Pugh, head of services (Wales) for Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “Macmillan is thrilled to see the progress of this unit, our biggest build in Wales, and to have the topping out ceremony a year since we cut the turf on the site.
“This unit will provide a warm, welcoming environment for people who need palliative care and their loved ones when it opens its doors next year and we would like to thank everyone who has donated to help us build it.”
Alan Lawrie, director of primary, community and mental health at Cwm Taf University Health Board, said: “We are delighted that the unit is being built on the site of the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant which will provide state-ofthe-art healthcare facilities for our patients and their relatives.”
Rosamund Davies, National Garden Scheme regional chairwoman for Wales and the Marches, said: “The National Garden Scheme is extremely proud to be supporting Macmillan in building the Y Bwthyn NGS Macmillan Specialist Palliative Care Unit – and it’s thanks to the generosity of our garden owners, volunteers and visitors that we are able donate and watch this incredibly important place take shape.”