PREFERRED SITE FOR NEW HOSPITAL ANNOUNCED

At a joint board meeting this morning (Thursday 18 November), Caerphilly Local Health Board and Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust Board announced that the preferred site for a new hospital in Caerphilly County Borough is Ystrad Fawr on Caerphilly Road in Ystrad Mynach opposite the current Ystrad Mynach Hospital. The announcement formed part of the Board’s consideration of the Outline Business Case (OBC) for the new 266 bedded hospital, which will now go to the Welsh Assembly Government for approval.

A number of possible sites were considered with a shortlist of two being drawn up for more in-depth evaluation. Following this, the Ystrad Fawr site has been deemed to be the most suitable site, subject to certain outstanding issues being resolved.

Once the OBC has been approved by the Welsh Assembly Government, a full business case, which goes into more detail including the financial affordability and design of the hospital, will be developed. This is expected to be completed by October 2005. It is hoped that, subject to the necessary Assembly approvals, work on the £97 million hospital will start on site in 2007.