Hospital unveils plans to move to Swansea waterfront scheme
SOUTH Wales independent hospital HMT Sancta Maria has announced plans to build a purpose-built facility at University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) SA1 Swansea Waterfront development.
Healthcare Management Trust (HMT), the not-for-profit organisation which owns and operates Sancta Maria, is currently working on plans for a state-of-the-art 18-bed hospital between Fabian Way and the Prince of Wales dock.
The plot forms part of the UWTSD’s SA1 Swansea Waterfront development, which aims to create a neighbourhood with academic activity at its core to attract companies to co-locate with the university to exploit knowledge, develop skills, support existing companies and attract new investment into the region.
The new purpose-built facility will replace the existing HMT Sancta Maria hospital in Uplands after a two-year search for a location during which HMT also explored sites at Felindre and Morriston Hospital.
HMT Sancta Maria’s hospital director Stuart Hammond, right, said: “A move to SA1 Swansea Waterfront is a hugely exciting opportunity for HMT Sancta Maria and our patients.
“We have been privileged to serve patients in the Swansea Bay area for decades and a new purpose-built hospital will allow an even wider range of high-quality medical treatments and services to residents throughout the region.
“The move makes sense for us for a number of reasons.
“As a not-for-profit hospital, the opportunity to work closely with the UWTSD to develop healthcare training and skills, addresses one of our primary goals.
Mr Hammond added: “Moving to SA1 also places us close to the heart of the city and enables us to play our part in its ongoing regeneration whilst remaining accessible for our patients.”
The proposed move in early 2019 would represent a significant milestone for UWTSD in its ambition to attract employers with training and skills requirements to co-locate on its new £300m Swansea Waterfront development.
UWTSD’s vice-hancellor Professor Medwin Hughes, DL, said: “Our vision for SA1 Swansea Waterfront has always been to create a learningcentred neighbourhood populated with organisations and business with whom we can develop mutually beneficial relationships to address skills gaps and further our employability agenda. “HMT Sancta Maria would be an ideal partner for us and would help drive our healthcare learning provision, especially in the areas of elderly care and healthcare management.” Rob Stewart, leader of the City and County of Swansea Council, said: “HMT Sancta Maria’s proposed move to the SA1 waterfront area is yet another vote of confidence in Swansea. “It is also an important milestone for UWTSD and its ambitious plans to breathe new life into an important and under-utilised area of the city.
“While not part of the £1.3bn City Deal or the city-centre redevelopment, it demonstrates these projects are already attracting additional investment to our city.
“The pace of redevelopment and inward investment in Swansea will continue to increase. It really is a very exciting time to be living and working in Swansea,” added Coun Stewart.
To provide further information about the proposed plans, two public consultation events for residents have been scheduled.
The first took place yesterday and the second will take place today, Wednesday, June 7, between 10am2pm, at the Waterfront Community Church on Langdon Road, Swansea.
Anyone who wishes to make representations about this proposed development must submit them by July 6, 2017.