Latest news with #BCUHB
Rhyl Journal
3 days ago
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
Scaled-down plans for new hospital at Royal Alex unveiled
Proposals for a new North Denbighshire Community Hospital were first revealed in 2013 – 12 years ago. The project has been beset by delays. Progression of the previous redevelopment scheme was hit by implications from the Covid pandemic and development costs, which ballooned from £22m to around £80m. The scaled-down plans, which include redeveloping the three-storey community hospital building, demolishing two outdated buildings, and relocating a temporary building to allow for construction, were published by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on Friday, August 15. The latest draft design proposals for the hospital include: Minor injuries, radiology, and dental units will be on the ground floor, with the first floor accommodating a new 14-bed inpatient ward. Planning permission for a previous design scheme for a new community hospital building at the site was originally granted in 2020. The redevelopment was initially planned to be completed in 2016. RELATED: Full vision for £40m health and wellbeing campus in Rhyl revealed The new plans look very different from what was first promised, which included: a minor injuries unit; older persons' mental health, set to work closely with older persons' physical teams; sexual health; day therapy assessment unit (IV Suite); community dental; radiology services; enhanced outpatient therapy service and inpatient facilities; plus a 28-bed ward with single rooms and en suite facilities. As well as seeking planning permission, BCUHB is developing a full business case to justify the costs involved and show how the health board would pay for goods and services. This will need to be approved at a meeting of the health board. It will also require Welsh Government funding approval. If all approvals are granted, BCUHB hopes to start building in the first quarter of 2026. A spokesperson from BCUHB said: "Before submitting our planning application to Denbighshire County Council, we want to hear your views on the new draft design proposals. Following this four-week consultation period, a new planning application will be submitted. "The new building being proposed represents a significant investment into the Royal Alexandra Hospital site. It would provide new, modern facilities serving the people of Rhyl and its surrounding areas. "According to our draft plans, the new hospital building would be placed on the southern part of the hospital site. This is adjacent to Russell Road and currently used as a car park. The main vehicle entrance into the site would remain on Alexandra Road. "A programme of refurbishment and improvement works to the existing main Royal Alexandra Hospital building are also planned to go ahead, separately to these new building proposals." In February 2024, during the opening of the Engineering Centre at Coleg Llandrillo's Rhyl campus, the then First Minister of Wales expressed hope the Royal Alex development would have "gone some way" by the next Senedd election. He said: 'By then, people will see not only a plan but the physical changes that will secure the future of that building - a very important building, quite a difficult building in terms of its listed status and the history behind it.' The Royal Alexandra Hospital (formerly the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital and Convalescent Home) is a Grade II listed Victorian building built in 1899. A drop-in consultation event will be held at the Pavillion Theatre Rhyl, East Parade, LL18 3AQ on Tuesday, August 26, 2.30pm to 6.30pm.
North Wales Live
4 days ago
- Health
- North Wales Live
Seaside town's new hospital proposals unveiled - nine years after was supposed to open
Back in 2013 plans for new a £22m hospital in a North Wales seaside town were backed by Welsh Government. Under the proposal the 30 bed facility on the site of the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Rhyl, would have opened in 2016. But nine years after that projected opening date and the scheme for a new hospital alongside a revamp of the existing building has still not started. Planning was secured in 2020 but the Covid pandemic and subsequent spiralling inflation saw it stall. Now a "paired-back" scheme has been put out to consultation by Betsi Cadwaladr health board ahead of a planning application being submitted. This would see a 14 bed hospital ward alongside a new Minor Injuries and Ailments Unit (MIAU), a dental facility, and new radiology unit. A planning statement said: "Planning permission for a previous design scheme for a new community hospital building at the site was originally granted permission back in 2020. However , progression of the previous redevelopment scheme was hit by implications from the Covid pandemic, and in-turn significant increased development costs. "Consequently, the original proposals were found to be unaffordable, and therefore the proposals have had to be rethought. In the interim period, BCUHB's development and project teams have been working hard to plan a development which will both meet the changing needs of our population and provide value for the public money being spent. "The proposed new building would represent a significant investment for the Royal Alexandra Rhyl campus to complement the retained facilities. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now "Through the updated proposals BCUHB are looking to build a valuable addition to the community services provided in Rhyl, which will help to safeguard the continued use of the Royal Alexandra site for years to come. "Whilst the latest proposals have been paired-back from the previous proposals, the plans aim to incorporate as much of the previously proposed facilities as possible." The development proposals presented are for a new three storey community hospital building. Ground and first floor levels will accommodate the new healthcare facilities, with the second floor limited to accommodating necessary mechanical plant to serve the building. The statement added: "A separate programme of refurbishment and improvement works to the existing grade II listed main Royal Alexandra Hospital building are also planned to go ahead separately to the new building proposals. These refurbishment works will be the subject of a separate application in due course." Leader of the Welsh Conservatives and Clwyd West MS Darren Millar said: "Twelve years ago, the people of North Denbighshire were promised this incredible new hospital which would relieve pressures on Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and greatly improve the patient experience. 'The project has been beset by delays since the estimated costs ballooned and people have been left wondering whether the promised new facility would ever materialise. "Now, we have been insulted with massively scaled back plans, even though pressures at Glan Clwyd are worse than they were twelve years ago. "This is totally unacceptable, and the Welsh Government must now deliver on its many pre-election promises. Anything less will be an insult to people in the locality. "The Welsh Government has spent tens of millions on 20mph speed limits, unnecessary overseas offices, and tree planting in Africa, so money is no excuse for not giving us what we were promised. 'Given the dire state of health services here in North Wales, they should be looking at increasing the number of hospital beds, not slashing them."
Leader Live
11-08-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Dancer suffering from anorexia fundraising for treatment
Olivia-May Ashton, aged 29, was diagnosed with atypical anorexia in 2016 - while she was training at a dance school in London. A decade on, and Olivia, from Buckley, says Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) "continues to deny me of the treatment I need". "I left London, had to move home, due to needing more support - and wasn't able to continue my dance career," she said. "My care was meant to be transferred to my local eating disorder community team. But it wasn't, I was placed in my local community mental health team and left with no specialist treatment and a battle to get any support. "They refused to believe I had an eating disorder, even though I was formally diagnosed at the Maudsley Psychiatric Hospital in London." Olivia, who has autism, said over the past five years she has been "in and out" of an acute psychiatric hospital. "I'd have crisis episodes, burnouts, and meltdowns", she said. "Which we now understand is my autism and ADHD, which my community team never picked up on. "I had a private assessment and was formally diagnosed. I have had multiple specialist eating disorder assessments recommending specific treatment for my needs, which continues to be unmet and ignored by BCUHB. "The services which are meant to provide help and support, have ultimately made my mental health and life worse. "I have now been left with no choice other than to try and fund some private treatment, but this is going to come at a huge cost. It shouldn't be a postcode lottery for people to access the required services, but this is the reality." Olivia has set up a GoFundMe page to fund treatment at the ABBI eating disorders clinic in Greater Manchester which offers group and one-to-one therapy, and meal support. "It's like being in hospital, without the overnight stay, and more therapeutic," she said. Olivia May-Ashton pictured with her dog during a previous hospital admission. (Image: Olivia May-Ashton) Olivia has so far raised just over £500. Her page can be accessed via It costs £250 to attend the centre, and Olivia would be attending twice a week. After she requested access to the ABBI facility through the NHS, BCUHB told her that the Welsh NHS does not commission day programme services for eating disorders. The health board said it was also deemed to be the "best course of action", and instead suggested Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). "I've already had DBT and it didn't work for me", Olivia said. "I can't help but feel neglected by NHS adult mental health services, and hope that in the future no one else has to go through what I have been through, and continue to go through on a daily basis." MORE NEWS: Olivia has submitted a formal complaint to BCUHB - which has confirmed it is looking into. Teresa Owen, BCUHB's executive director of Allied Health Professions and Health Science, said: 'We are sorry to hear that Miss Ashton is unhappy with the care she has received. "We can confirm we have received her concern this week and will be responding to her directly.'
North Wales Chronicle
31-07-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Health board outlines 'learning' from historical £9.4m blunder
A damning report by Audit Wales had confirmed that accounting errors by the then Betsi Cadwaladr University Hospital Board happened as a result of identified expenditure of £9.4m being accounted for in 2021/22, when it appeared to relate to 2022/23. But following probes by NHS Counter Fraud and North Wales Police, no evidence of fraud was found. Some finance department staff had raised confidential concerns regarding the recording of transactions through whistle blowing procedures. The health board was also made aware of an unauthorised disclosure of an accounting report by EY (Ernst & Young) in mid-May, 2023. The firm had written a scathing report after 'significant errors' were identified. Although the report had been restricted in terms of circulation, received by a small group of people within the health board, Audit Wales and NHS Wales Counter Fraud Service, the disclosure had constituted a breach of data legislation. The board was also subject to a Board Effectiveness Assessment by Audit Wales which had reported in February 2023. Shortly afterwards, the Welsh Government escalated the organisation to a Level 5/Special Measures intervention. A 'deeply worrying degree of dysfunctionality,' within the then board and senior leadership,' had been identified in the report. Sue Hill, the then executive director of finance, had been on leave of absence since December 2022, but this had included 12 months due to major surgery and treatment. She resigned and left the organisation in December 2024. Since November, 2023 the board has been led by CEO Carol Shillabeer, who was also the interim chief from May, 2023 until her appointment. A final summary report on the accounting issues was discussed at the BCUHB meeting today (Thursday, July 31). A statement by the board, released, 15 minutes ahead of the start of the meeting, said: 'Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board today discussed a final summary report on the accounting issues which occurred in 2021/22. 'This is to provide transparency and accountability and to ensure learning, with measures in place to safeguard that such matters do not happen in future. 'This was clearly a serious and complex matter and a wide range of reviews, investigations and other processes have been undertaken as a result. 'No evidence of fraud was found through investigations by Counter Fraud Wales and North Wales Police. 'The report demonstrates the learning and actions implemented and there are now strengthened systems, culture, and leadership in place. Audit Wales has issued an unqualified audit opinion (a true and fair view) on the Annual Accounts for the last two financial years. 'External bodies, through various reports and assurances, have recognised the progress made by the Health Board. We have, and will continue to learn from this experience as we build a culture of integrity, respect, and transparency across all areas of our organisation.' (Image: BCUHB) Speaking at the meeting CEO Carol Shillabeer said her report had focused on issues that led to the qualification of the accounts in 2021/22. The 'core issues' had related to accounting practice, related, wider issues including contract procurement and management, HR management, information governance, culture and behaviours and the summary of key learning and action, taken and ongoing. 'This matter has been very difficult for the people involved and for wider departments in the organisation and the health board in general,' she said. 'I hope that bringing this final report means that having brought out the issues, the learning and action we can now start to move forward.'
North Wales Chronicle
30-06-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
BCUHB makes progress but emergency care and waiting times must improve
According to the latest annual report it was also the second best health board in Wales for the percentage of GP surgeries that achieved the National Access Standards for in-hours medical services. The report stated that 99% of GPs met the required standard for high-quality care, timely access to services and fair access for all patients. Four years ago BCUHB – the organisation that manages health services across North Wales – was Wales' worst performing board for GP access. In the financial section of the report BCUHB was reported to have overspent it's 2.3 billion revenue budget for 2023/24 by £7.6m. That is a breach of its first financial duty – to break even – but represents a huge improvement on the previous year where it overspent its revenue budget by £24.3 million. The figure was also £1m less than the additional spending figure approved by Welsh Government for BCUHB according to its newly-published annual report. The report also highlighted significant infrastructure investment, including a new orthopaedic hub at Llandudno Hospital and community-based health facilities in Bangor and Denbigh. While there were improvements in general practice and financial governance, the report highlighted some critical challenges BCUHB needed to address in the coming year. For example the number of accident and emergency patients across the region spending less than four hours in the Emergency Department (ED) fell from 54.2% the previous year to 49.6% in 23/24. The number of patients waiting more than 12 hours in the ED rose by more than 4,000 over the year, with the number who waited more than 24 hours also increased by more than 4,000. In terms of waiting lists BCUHB made significant inroads to reduce the number of patients waiting two years or more for treatment, however it still has work to do to reduce the number of those waiting 52 weeks or more – which rose by 10,550 over the last 12 months. Chief executive Carol Shillabeer told board members: 'We're two years into an improvement journey and process as a board. 'This report is a marker on where we are on that journey and where we will be at this time next year. 'We are improving our financial governance, that's clear. There are signs we are improving organisational governance as a board and in a wider context as well. 'Twelve months from now hope we will see further improvements from where we are now.' Outside of the financial aspects, Ms Shillabeer said the next year would see the board turn its focus to those areas where patients had yet to see improvements in care – such as waiting times. 'We'll be pointing at those areas where we have yet to really turn the dial in the most significant way for patients,' she said. 'That continues to be our key focus, particularly around access to services and people waiting too long to receive care.' BCUHB chairman Dyfed Edwards acknowledged the progress made to improve the board's financial position, but agreed that more work was needed to improve services alongside that. 'We've done excellent work around the governance and finances which is really important for how the organisation goes about our business,' he said. 'But most people don't see that, or they only see it when something goes wrong. 'The building blocks are in place but we need to address the issues around performance that the report highlights and much of that is about access to services. 'People are really impresses with the treatment they receive according to the feedback we get and they are impressed with the kindness of our staff and services. 'But it's actually getting the service in the first place, that is the huge challenge. Everything we do in the next 12 months we hope will address that. 'There's no quick fix, these things take time and for things to change everything must change. It's not just about trying to fix one thing, everything has got to change.'
