£36m plans to improve access to healthcare in Merthyr Tydfil

18/06/2010

More than £36million has been earmarked by the Welsh Assembly Government to develop Wales' flagship health park in Merthyr Tydfil, Health Minister Edwina Hart announced today.

It means that plans for the park, which is hoped will be open to public by 2013 at Georgetown Plateau, are one step closer to fruition.

Cwm Taf Health Board is expected to submit final proposals for the park to the Health Minister later this year for her consideration.

The park will transform health services in Merthyr Tydfil, bringing together services from primary care, including mental health and social care services, in one place. 

The proposed three-storey purpose designed facility, which will include health, social services and voluntary sector accommodation will also replace some of the outdated facilities at St Tydfil's, Seymour Berry Centre and the Hollies Health Centre.

The building is designed to ensure delivery of a wide-ranging integrated service for patients within a modern, environmentally excellent facility, flexibly constructed to allow for future changes in service delivery.

The proposals follow an Assembly Government-commissioned report on improving access to healthcare in Merthyr Tydfil.

Mrs Hart said:

"I'm pleased to earmark funds for the proposed development at Merthyr, which will provide a modern, flexible environment with huge scope to deliver improved and more joined up primary and community health and social care services.

"People in Merthyr Tydfil have some of the poorest health in Wales, and I am committed to address this by providing easier access to services.

"The proposed development will bring together a range of health professionals to transform healthcare in Merthyr, in order to provide access to early assessment and treatment to help prevent short-term sickness absence developing into long term sickness incapacity, and address the challenge of long-term conditions. 

"I look forward to seeing the final details of these proposed developments from Cwm Taf Health Board for my consideration."

The Chair of Cwm Taf Health Board, Dr Chris Jones, added:

"We fully intend to ensure joined up services that meet the needs of Merthyr Tydfil.  This investment in the state-of-the-art facilities will be a major step forward.  The Cwm Taf Health Board looks forward to developing primary and community services together with the local authority and voluntary sectors."