£3m to be invested in improving hospital’s facilities

MORE than £3m is being ploughed into improving facilities at a hospital in north Wales.

Health Secretary Vaughan Gething has announced that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board will be given the money to install a two theatre suite modular development at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

The Welsh Government say they expect the facilities to be up and running by March 2018.

The capital funding aims to address infrastructure issues which led to the closure of two theatres in 2016 and an endoscopy suite earlier this year.

The health board says it will try to mitigate the disruption by hiring two mobile theatres for a sixmonth period which will be in place by January 2018.

It is claimed the funding announced for the two modular theatres will provide “new, more robust facilities” for the people of Wrexham and the surrounding area for at least the next 10 years.

Health Secretary Vaughan Gething said: “Ensuring the people of Wales have access to up-todate healthcare services in a safe environment is a priority.

“I’m pleased to announce over £3m worth of funding for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to take the necessary steps to improve facilities at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

“Moreover, this will enable health professionals to work efficiently, providing high-quality patient care for patients in Wrexham and the surrounding area, and meet the required performance standards.”

Gary Doherty, chief executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “We have been working closely with Welsh Government since the closure of the theatres in the Wrexham Maelor Hospital and we are delighted that funding has been awarded to install two new modular theatres for day case surgery.

“Through the addition of local capital resources, we will also install an endoscopy suite.

“We are pleased that we have been able to take swift action to improve this situation.

“These new facilities will ensure that people in Wrexham and the surrounding area will continue to receive a high-quality service going forward.”