Support for hospital site investment
I AGREE with former Plaid councillor Alan Speake (Journal letters, March 9) that Adam Price MS is a respected Welsh political leader, but I would like to make one thing clear.
Mr Price has expressed support for investment at the Glangwili site, not near Traveller’s Rest. An initial feasibility study several years ago dismissed the site west of Carmarthen because it was too small, with part of it on a C2 flood plain.
Given the floods that have blighted our town including the Johnstown area and the Quayside over the past few years, I think this was a prudent decision. On that note, I welcome the commitment to a Flood Review and Flood Capital Investment that Plaid Cymru secured as part of the Cooperation Agreement in the Senedd in 2021.
In the spirit of this unique agreement, I hope it can make a real and lasting difference for people in Carmarthen in helping to address the flooding and other issues we face as a vibrant, successful and growing town, which has much to offer in terms of transport, housing, education, training and leisure facilities.
As the regional centre for West Wales, Carmarthen must be added to the shortlist of six potential sites for the proposed £500m urgent and planned care hospital with A&E facilities. The logical answer would be to develop the Glangwili Hospital site and acquire adjoining land to ensure sufficient space. The hospital has recently seen substantial multi-million-pound investment in new clinics and many millions more will have to be spent on the long-overdue renovation of older wards, built over 60 years ago – wherever the new hospital goes.
It’s also crucial that all this goes hand in hand with large-scale investment in integrating health and care community facilities. Above all, it’s essential that the Welsh Government approves the Hywel Dda Health Board’s £1.5bn Programme Business Case bid, which includes funding a new hospital and the upgrading of community hospitals and other facilities to improve healthcare in West Wales. Glangwili used to be called the West Wales General Hospital. The case for restoring its status by siting the new hospital there must be taken seriously.
Finally, I’m sure everyone agrees that our frontline NHS staff have been incredible throughout the Covid crisis. I trust that as we move out of the pandemic we don’t forget this and continue to value their skills and dedication in the long term.