Go-ahead given for maternity services improvements

A SECOND phase of improvements to maternity and neonatal services in Carmarthen have been given the go-ahead.

Health Secretary Vaughan Gething has approved £1.209m for Hywel Dda University Health Board to develop a full business case for the improvements at Glangwili Hospital.

The Welsh Government says the funding allows the health board to bring forward plans to make Glangwili more accessible to patients while improving the neonatal unit and labour ward at the site.

Mr Gething said: “An important part of this process is engagement with the public and I hope people will take the opportunity to have their say on any proposals.

“We want people in West Wales to have access to the best quality neonatal and maternity services, this funding will go a long way to help deliver that ambition.”

The Welsh Government expects to receive the business case by the summer.

Chief Executive Steve Moore said: “We are delighted the Welsh Government has given us support to move to the next stage in this capital development project.

“For us this is an important further step in providing improved facilities for our families and staff using Glangwili Hospital’s maternity and special care baby services.

“We will continue to work closely with patients, staff, stakeholders and the public to build and test the final business case to ensure we have the strongest case for improving the hospital environment so we can be as proud of our space and facilities as we are of our hard working staff.

“At the same time, we are working on early planning for the third stage of this project to also upgrade our facilities for children’s services at the hospital and we have not lost sight of that commitment either.”