Assembly gives go-ahead for Llanrwst primary care centre

Jan 8 2009 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

FUNDING for a new state of the art health centre for Llanrwst where GPs and nurses will be able to offer a wide range of services has been announced by the Assembly.

Health minister Edwina Hart has approved a bid from Conwy Local Health Board (LHB) for a new primary care centre to be constructed on the site of the former grammar school.

The new facility will replace the existing Scotland Street practice and also offer an increased range of community-based health and social services serving the 8,400 strong community on a single site.

It will also mean the surgery can increase its team of nurses and other healthcare staff and provide training for doctors.

“This is brilliant news. Although the scheme had received a verbal promise of funding, at one time it looked as though it could be in jeopardy, so to have this official confirmation that the funding is in place is excellent,” said Crwst county councillor Sian Lloyd-Jones.

The funding will also mean the surgery will be able to provide a wider range of services, including care traditionally provided in hospital settings, so that healthcare will be provided more conveniently closer to people’s homes.

Edwina Hart said: “This new development, supported by Welsh Assembly funding, will ensure that a range of high-quality healthcare is provided closer to people’s homes in the Conwy area.

“The funding will allow an expansion of services and enable the staff to serve more of the local population.”

The centre is expected to be open by November. The Scotland Street surgery will continue to take patients until the new facility is built.

samantha.castle