Abergele Hospital future is still unclear

Jan 22 2009 by Andrew Davies, North Wales Weekly News

THE future of Abergele Hospital still hangs in the balance despite an Assembly U-turn on other hospital closures 18 months ago, according to Clwyd West AM Darren Millar.

Following the 2007 Assembly election, health minister Edwina Hart announced that plans to close hospitals across Wales were to be scrapped, but Abergele was excluded from the announcement.

Following challenges from Mr Millar in the Assembly chamber, a review was commissioned which was due to be completed in January 2008. The findings and recommendations are yet to be published.

Mr Millar said: “The Assembly must come clean over its intentions for Abergele Hospital.

“It is not fair for hard-working staff or local campaigners to be waiting such a long time for a decision regarding its future.

“Abergele Hospital has provided an excellent standard of care to many thousands of patients over decades and I am confident that it can do so well into the future. Whilst I accept that tough decisions on current activities there may need to be made, the hospital is still a suitable environment for a wide range of NHS services.

“I have taken the delay up with the minister and will continue to press this until an announcement is made.”

In June 2008 it was revealed that a £13.7 million purpose-built mental health unit was to be developed on the site of Abergele Hospital.