Plans progress for £10m hospital

The new facility would replace Lluesty hospital

Plans to replace two ageing hospitals with a £10m facility at Holywell, Flintshire are finally expected to take a step forward after a delay of nearly two decades.

The need for a new hospital was first identified in 1985, when public consultations began, however, a lack of funds halted the plans.

In the modern building we will be able to give the appropriate environment for clinical practices

Andrew Gunnion Flintshire Local Health Group

The 44-inpatient bed site would replace the Holywell and Lluesty hospitals which were built about a century ago.

The scheme, which would open in 2005, is expected to be backed by the Flintshire Local Health Group on Wednesday.

The proposals, for the community hospital facilities and rehabilitation centre, are then due to be considered by the local health authority next week.

A draft copy of the project's business plan has already been sent to the Welsh Assembly.

Andrew Gunnion, general manager of the Flintshire Local Health Group, said the new building would improve services locally.

"It will bring a community hospital and a rehabilitation hospital together on a single site," he said.

Andy Scotson: Backs the plan

"Both are old hospitals - in the modern building we will be able to give the appropriate environment for clinical practices."

The sites of the two hospitals would be sold off to raise funds for the projects.

Lleusty hospital is a former workhouse built in 1838, while Holywell hospital was constructed in 1909.

Andy Scotson, spokesman for the North East Wales NHS Trust, said if the site did not go-ahead the old hospitals could prove to be a financial drain.

"The current sites would require fairly significant investment if they are to be kept going."

"This plan will spend the money on something that will meet modern standards," he added.

New posts

Construction on the hospital, which will include a 12-place day hospital, a rehabilitation department and an outpatient clinic service, is due to start in 2004.

A minor casualty and primary care centre are also part of the plans, as well as a base for social services staff.

Details of the scheme were released for a period of public consultation last year.

During that process, a site on Halkyn Road - which is already owned by the health service - was identified as the preferred location for the project.

All permanent staff at the two current hospitals have been assured they will be offered new posts.