Work to start on emergency centre

The new emergency care unit will be built at Prince Charles Hospital

Work is to begin on a new £22m emergency care centre which is expected to help reduce waiting times, the assembly government says.

The centre at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil includes trauma, medical and surgical assessment services and access to an MRI scanner.

It will also be able to deal with cardiac emergencies and will feature short-stay facilities.

Health minister Edwina Hart said the centre would enhance services.

It will also help speed up treatment, she added.

"This investment will complement recent investment in the hospital," she said.

"Now, with a new MRI scanner, refurbished wards and the development of a new day case unit, patients will see significant improvements in the speed of treatment and quality of the environment for care."