Agenda item

To receive a presentation to consider the current position with regards to the project’s delivery including support in principle from the Regional Partnership Board and Welsh Government.

 

The Lead Member for Health and Social Care, Councillor Elen Heaton, introduced The Acute Care Director, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to the Committee. 

 

Following a meeting to discuss the Royal Alexandra Hospital, progress had been made but it was in the early stages.  The Lead Member confirmed that the Royal Alexandra development was a Health Board project with support from DCC when required.  It was stressed the importance of the development of the Royal Alexandra Hospital to alleviate the pressure on Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and integration between Health and Social Care would be the priority. 

 

Alyson Constantine, Acute Care Director, BCUHB, confirmed to the Committee the timescales and process for the future. 

 

A partnership project had been established and support from the Regional Partnership Board (RPB) had been confirmed in December 2023.

 

Work was ongoing with TACP Architects to provide high level designs, costs and timescales.  

 

The Option Appraisal would go to BCU Governance in March and then submitted to Welsh Government (WG) at the end of March.   WG would then confirm funding and grant allocations following this stage.

 

The drivers for the options appraisal were as follows –

 

·         Refurbish the existing building for sustainability and ensure it was fit for purpose;

·         Utilise the best use of floor space to maximise the community benefits;

·         Focus on integration of health and social care services;

·         Improvement of collaborative working between Health, Social Care and the Third Sector;

·         Enable provision of a Minor Injuries Unit with some beds on the campus;

·         Provide fit for purpose accommodation – not everything in the new building;

·         The option must be affordable.

 

New clinical building provides new and expanded services –

 

·         Community beds – a new model of step-up and step-down care;

·         A major injuries unit for the community with District Nurse clinics;

·         Expanded radiology services to include ultrasound and out of hours cover;

·         A third sector hub to offer advice and information and support and promote well-being;

·         Expanded accommodation for integrated health and social care teams at site;

·         A community café for visitors and staff;

·         Community dental services to be provided locally in a fit for purpose environment.

 

Refurbishment of existing building and use of wider site –

 

·         Provide a fit for purpose environment for –

o   Multi agency teams

o   Third sector groups

o   Children’s Services

o   Therapy Services, and

o   Sexual Health Services.

·         a range of support teams would be based at the site;

·         retain the two Glan Traeth buildings housing older people’s mental health teams and a range of outpatient services

·         extended car parking offsite.

 

The Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) Review Scope Options were as follows –

 

·         Option 1 -  Do nothing

·         Option 2 – Remedial work on existing RAH. No change to services

·         Options 3, 4, 5 – Intermediate Scope – New Options

o   Option 3 – Single Storey, original business case footprint and ground floor layout.  Provide minor injuries, community dental, expanded radiology, expanded sexual health services and the third sector hub.  Refurbishment of the existing building.

o   Option 4 – Single Storey, original business case footprint and new layout.  Provide minor injuries, community dental, expanded radiology, community beds and the third sector hub.  Refurbishment of the existing building.

o   Option 5 – two storey, same floor space as options 3 and 4 and new layout.  Provide minor injuries, community dental, expanded radiology, community beds and third sector hub.  Refurbishment of the existing building.

·         Option 6 -  Maximum Scope of FBC

 

The timescales would depend on the outcome of engagement with WG over the options available.

 

Members thanked Alyson for the presentation.

 

During discussions, the following points were raised –

·         Members expressed their frustrations as the original plan for RAH had been raised 13 years previous.  BCU also shared members’ frustrations.  It was clarified that the most appropriate model and facilities needed to be put forward in the best affordable way.   The process should be straight forward this year with a decision being made soon.    It was confirmed that the business case put forward years ago would not be affordable at the current time.  The options put forward were more affordable for a fit for purpose facility.

·         The issue of patients being transferred to other areas for speciality services was raised.  It was confirmed that patients would still be transferred to other areas for the best necessary treatments and that process would not change.

·         Member involvement was important and the Leader and Lead Member for Health and Social Care were involved with discussions and plans for RAH.  It was confirmed that information would be circulated to all members to ensure communication continuity.

 

At this juncture, Councillor Arwel Roberts proposed that a letter be sent to  Vaughan Gethin, the Minister for Health at the Welsh Government, and the Head of Health Services requesting more money to North Wales to allow this hospital to be built and as soon as possible.  

 

Seconded by Councillor Bobby Feeley.

 

RESOLVED that the Partnership Scrutiny Committee note the update presentation and agree to send a letter from the Committee to Vaughan Gethin, also the Minister for Health and the Head of Health Services requesting more money to North Wales to allow the Royal Alexandra Hospital to be built as soon as possible.