Agenda item

To consider an update by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) on the progress of the North Denbighshire Community Hospital / Health Facility Project.

                                                                                      9.35 a.m. – 10.10 a.m.

Mr Gareth Evans introduced this item in his capacity as the Project’s Director.  Via a PowerPoint presentation he detailed the various stages of the business case process required to bring the Project into fruition, explaining that they were now at the Outline Business Case (OBC) stage. 

The preparation of the OBC, which would include identification of the design and site development options and the production of the business case itself, would continue throughout the summer into autumn ready for submission to the Welsh Government (WG) in late 2016 or early 2017 for approval to proceed to the Full Business Case (FBC) stage.  During the presentation he emphasised that BCUHB was committed to delivering the project.  The scope of the project had been reviewed following widespread consultation and would now include, along with other services, the provision for minor injuries in a unit that could help support broader primary healthcare services in the area, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and sexual health services at the site of the former Royal Alexandra Hospital in Rhyl. 

It was also envisaged that the Single Point of Access (SPoA) Service would be located on the site as well as the Older Persons Mental Health Outpatient Service.  However, whilst there would be 28 inpatient beds at the site, none of these would be for people with long-term mental health problems.  BCUHB was committed to delivering the Project on the site of the former Royal Alexandra Hospital, despite the complexities of redeveloping a listed building and the cost premium associated with the work, as this was the only suitable site in the area. 

The concept behind the project was the development of a modern health service facility that was able to deal with both the physical and mental health needs of older people, deliver urgent same day care where required, provide accessible outpatient care closer to the patient’s home and where a range of partners concerned with the health and well-being of citizens worked seamlessly together for the patient’s benefit whilst also providing access to well-being and prevention information. 

Responding to members’ questions BCUHB officials advised that:

·                     The OBC would include details on how the Health Board intended to deliver the project and the anticipated timescales involved once the FBC was approved;

·                     A 28 bed in-patient unit would be included in the OBC, however no decision had yet been taken on the configuration of the inpatient unit;

·                     Car parking facilities and public transport arrangements to the facility would all feature in the OBC;

·                     The WG had approved the Outline Business Case in September 2013 and it was still keen to see the project come into fruition.  £24m had been committed by the WG towards the project at that time.  Due to the time lapse and amendments to the project brief following consultation with the public and stakeholders, the funding for the project would require some refinement;

·                     An engagement strategy was in the process of being drawn up for the purpose of informing both residents and stakeholders on the project’s progress;

·                     Some stakeholders would be involved with the process of drawing up the OBC;

·                     They would welcome any ideas from councillors with regards to communicating  and engaging with residents on the plans for the facility;

·                     Once the new facility was operational information on the services available there would be widely shared with residents and stakeholders;

·                     Staff already working elsewhere in services that will eventually be available at the North Denbighshire Healthcare Facility site would be transferred there, whilst ‘new’ services would be subject of a recruitment campaign;

·                     Issues relating to the practicalities of utilising a listed Victorian hospital building for modern healthcare practices would be explored thoroughly at the OBC stage.  One potential option would be to use the ‘listed’ building for administration and other non-surgical work, with medical/surgical work being undertaken in modern state of the art purpose built buildings;

·                     The development of this Healthcare facility could be used as a blueprint for the development of future healthcare service across North Wales;

·                     The majority of services that would be available at the Rhyl site would be services for the local North Denbighshire area, with some of the more specialised services being available for the wider population of North Wales;

·                     Whilst the site would primarily be a health facility there was widespread recognition that it would be an ideal location to deliver integrated health, social care and well-being services;

·                     The facility would serve the population of North Denbighshire, the geographical area being defined as generally the area north of the A55 towards the coastline including Rhyl, Prestatyn, St. Asaph, Bodelwyddan, Dyserth and their outlying rural areas;

·                     The type of healthcare facility being planned for the area would complement other forms of health and social care provision such as treating patients within their own homes and supporting them to live independently and safely for as long as possible; and

·                     They were in regular contact with local authority Planning officers with respect to the potential impact on the Health Service of the Local Development Plan (LDP) proposals for the North Denbighshire area.

Prior to the discussion’s conclusion Members requested assurance that the Chapel within the Royal Alexandra Hospital building be preserved.   The Chair thanked Health Board officials for attending and briefing members on the progress of the Project, and it was:

RESOLVED – that:-

(i)            subject to the above observations to receive the presentation on the North Denbighshire Community Hospital – Health Facility Project; and

(ii)     a further update report on the Project and the production of the Outline Business Case be presented to the Committee at its November 2016 meeting.