The future of health care in Blaenau area
THIS artist’s impression is the first look at a £3.9m primary care centre in Gwynedd.
The new health facility will be built on the site of the old Blaenau Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital which closed in 2013.
Facilities at Canolfan Goffa Ffestiniog will include a state of the art GP Practice, a new multi-purpose outpatient suite, enhanced dementia and children’s service and access to social care and voluntary services.
The new health resource centre will open in the summer of 2017.
And residents will get a sneak preview of the plans and the chance to talk about the services available and meet staff at a drop-in session next week.
But the plans have drawn criticism, with campaigners saying the closure of the Memorial Hospital in 2013 should not have taken place.
Geraint Vaughan Jones, chair of local health pressure group, the Memorial Hospital Defence Committee, has said consultations with local people and a referendum held in February last year on bringing beds back to the community hospital have been ignored by BCUHB, who secured the money for the centre from the Welsh Government.
“The public consultation was completely disregarded,” said Mr Vaughan Jones previously.
“Any genuine improvements will be taken on board gratefully, but most of these things are available at the existing health centre.
“They are just moving theses services with a view to selling the health centre.”
Last year’s referendum saw Blaenau Ffestiniog vote overwhelmingly in favour of bringing beds back to its community hospital. A total of 1,688 people voted for beds’ to return to the Memorial Hospital with just five voting against on a turnout of 52%
But town and county councillor Annwen Daniels welcomed the plans, saying it was a “big investment” in the town.
Cllr Daniels said: “Everybody wants there to be beds in the facility including myself, but we also don’t want there to be no health provision in the town.
“Hopefully the new health centre will be fantastic and it’s better than nothing.
“It’s a big investment in a town that is growing with a lot of tourists visiting.
“Hopefully the new centre will also bring in more doctors.”
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) Area Director for the West, Ffion Johnstone said: “We’re committed to delivering a first-class service for Blaenau Ffestiniog and surrounding area, and so we’re really looking forward to hearing peoples’ views.
“We want to build on the services that currently exist, and the local population can help us achieve that.”