Hospital's £31m development plans

An architect's impression of the new three-storey building

A £31m plan to upgrade Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth has been approved by the Welsh Assembly Government.

A three-storey building housing a new accident and emergency department and three operating theatres is part of a package of proposals.

The work is designed to improve patient care, cut waiting times and reduce the risk of infection.

The latest plans were approved by Health Minister Edwina Hart.

The Hywel Dda Trust will now work on the final stage of a three-phase planning process before development work can start.

Ms Hart said: "The current accident and emergency facilities at Bronglais Hospital are no longer fit-for-purpose.

THE MODERNISATION PROJECT INCLUDES Increasing A&E beds from 10 to 23 A four-bed major A&E area A two-bed resuscitation unit and a three-bed children's area Three new operating theatres Major refurbishment of wards including the maternity unit

"I am pleased to approve the latest plans to improve the services on offer at the hospital, backed by more than £31m of assembly government funding."

She added the announcement secured the long-term future of the hospital.

Among the new facilities planned for Bronglais is a clinical decisions unit, where undiagnosed patients can be treated until more is known about their condition.

'Radically update'

Other improvements include a better route to the A&E unit for emergency vehicles and improved car parking facilities.

Hywel Dda NHS Trust chief executive Martin Turner said: "The trust is delighted with this news as we can now proceed to draw down the detail on our plans to radically update and improve accommodation at Bronglais Hospital."

In February, it was announced that Bronglais was receiving £626,000 to enhance endoscopy facilities and telemedicine.

During the same month a new £2m cardiac unit opened.

Bronglais is the only district general hospital in mid Wales and treats people from Ceredigion, Powys and south Gwynedd.