Latest news with #CommunityHospital
Wales Online
15-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Welsh hospital facing closure as there's not enough money to make it fit for modern healthcare
Welsh hospital facing closure as there's not enough money to make it fit for modern healthcare Around £30m has been set aside for revamping the hospital, but it turns out that's woefully short of what's needed Maesteg Hospital (Image: Google maps ) A community hospital in Maesteg is facing potential closure as part of wider plans to develop a new health and well-being centre in the Llynfi Valley. The announcement was made as part of an update from Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board this month, about proposals which were set to deliver a wide range of services at a redeveloped Maesteg Community Hospital. However, despite expected Welsh Government funding of £20-25 million and a targeted overall budget of £30 million, it was revealed that this would no longer be enough to cover the costs of redeveloping the existing site - with plans now focusing on the creation a new facility elsewhere. A newsletter published by the health board recently said: "Unfortunately, the current situation is that the available budget does not cover the necessary redevelopment of the existing Maesteg Community Hospital site, which requires many millions of pounds more than we anticipated to return it to a building that is capable of delivering the modern, accessible and safe healthcare services that the community tell us they want. "In short, the overall redevelopment costs of Maesteg Community Hospital are currently 60% over the funding we anticipate. "If we were to reduce redevelopment costs in line with the likely available funding, it would not be possible to provide the quality and type of services that the community want or need. Article continues below "As such, and as a necessary part of our business case process to demonstrate that we are delivering quality and accessible services, we needed to look at alternatives. "Through engagement with Bridgend County Borough Council, we have identified another site within the Llynfi Valley that could potentially meet the health and well-being needs of the community." This new facility could potentially be developed on land close to Ewenny Road, Maesteg, which is located near to Maesteg town centre and the Ewenny Road Railway Station. The site near Ewenny Road could see a number of developments over the coming years (Image: Lewis Smith ) Workers at Kier Construction are currently assessing the viability of this site, with a feasibility report expected to be brought forward towards the end of May, 2025. They added that if the new site was deliverable within the "expected available funding" currrent services at Maesteg Community Hospital would remain open until the new health and well-being centre was finished to make sure there was no disruption. Article continues below The health board has also acknowledged the community's connection to Maesteg Hospital and its founders, and said whatever the decision was they would work to "preserve the history of this important building". However, it was stressed that no decision had yet been taken over these proposals, with a programme of public engagement expected as more details come to light. For the latest Bridgend news sign up to our newsletter here.
Irish Independent
01-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Cancer care campaigners hail ‘positive' meeting with Health Minister in Donegal: 'She recognised our unique situation'
Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill was in Co Donegal on Thursday as she visited the site of the new Letterkenny Community Hospital and Letterkenny University Hospital's Emergency Department and the Haematology/Oncology ward which has been newly restructured to enhance patient care and experience. She also visited the Errigal Chronic Disease Management Hub, where she was given an update on the Care Virtual Ward programme. During the visit, she met with cancer care campaigners Betty Homes, Noelle Duddy, Mary Orr and Roseena Doherty Toner. The cancer campaigners highlighted the need for increased cancer care services in Donegal to prevent patients having to travel hours to other hospitals such as Dublin or Galway for treatment. During the meeting, campaigners were told that the Minister is in support of a plan to increase services in Letterkenny which include the creation of an ambulatory care unit. It is believed that this unit will house cancer services. After meeting with the campaigners, Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said she is aware of the need for improved services and added she understands that cancer patients in Donegal have experiences on a 'deeper level.' 'I thank the groups for coming and describing their personal journeys and the journeys of so many other people who live with cancer. 'I really recognise and understand that Donegal has experienced that at a deeper level to many other counties for lots of different reasons. "I have always been aware of the depths of feeling in relation to cancer care services, the need for better services, the distances that people have to travel and how to provide better care. 'I have been listening to the HSE and hospital management on different plans for building on the expansion that is there in relation to cancer services and in relation to haematology services. "They have done some really good work over the last number of weeks to change work practices and to improve services, for example, people are getting their chemotherapy at a much earlier stage. 'There is good work being done and I believe that the HSE and team locally here are developing plans to come to the HSE about certain expansions that will make a very significant difference,' said Minister Carroll MacNeill. Campaigner and cancer survivor Roseena Toner, who has held three protests at the gates of the hospital, presented the Minister of Health with a petition signed by over 1,000 people supporting her call for a specialised cancer care unit at LUH. Speaking following the meeting, Ms Toner said the Minister is aware of the situation in Donegal and it was a 'positive meeting.' 'We are happy with the outcome of today but we have to see what comes down the track. 'There is a plan for an expansion of the hospital and an ambulatory care unit and that is where the cancer services will be housed. "The plans have to go through three or four steps before they get to her. "Unfortunately, as we are learning, everything within the HSE is a process and not something that will happen overnight but if we keep our foot on it and keeping pushing it on, we do feel we will get there. "It will be a few years,' said Ms Toner. Chairperson of Donegal Action for Cancer Care (DACC) Betty Holmes said it was important to meet with the new Health Minister and highlight the ongoing issues affecting cancer patients in Donegal. Ms Holmes, armed with a map detailing the locations of various healthcare services in the country, said the geographical isolation of Donegal is one of the biggest issues affecting patients. 'The map very clearly states that Donegal is not in the equation. "There are so many key issues that affect Letterkenny University Hospital and as far as I am concerned, it is 17 years ago since I said the health services are being gradually removed from Letterkenny Hospital and I have seen nothing that would convince me otherwise,' said Ms Holmes. Ms Holmes said there is excellence at Letterkenny University Hospital but this fact often gets lost as there is a lot of work that needs to be done. "We need to be looking at Ambulatory Centre, the surgical hubs and the key issues that affect patients because patients can no longer travel up and down that road to Galway. 'It has to stop. 'This is our foot in the door and we hope to continue meeting with the Minister, Saolta, HSE and the National Cancer Control Programme. "We are not prepared to let our hospital and the key services collapse,' said Ms Holmes.
Irish Independent
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
Water supply works carried out in New Ross following electrical failure
Expert water service crews were dispatched and are working with the ESB to minimise disruption and carry out the required repair works, with every effort being made to complete this work as quickly as possible. Works are scheduled to take place until Tuesday evening. Alternative water supplies have been made available at the Apex car park and the Community Hospital car park. Padraig Lyng, Water Operations Lead for Wexford, thanked affected customers for their cooperation while the repair works are being carried out and said: 'Uisce Éireann acknowledges the disruption that can be caused by an unplanned outage such as this operational issue at the Hewittsland Tower. "We wish to thank customers in Hewittsland area of New Ross for their patience while these emergency repair works were underway,' he added. Following the completion of works, it's recommended that three to four hours are allowed after the estimated restoration time for the supply to fully return. Uisce Éireann continues to provide detailed, real-time, and local information about water service and supply issues on its website, and vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Éireann will receive direct communications for planned and unplanned outages lasting more than four hours. Uisce Éireann has also launched a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues, to which customers can sign up with their Eircode and mobile number. To report an outage, customers can contact the Uisce Éireann care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278.
BBC News
06-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Call to reinstate minor injury units in two Herefordshire towns
A campaign has begun to reopen minor injury units (MIUs) at two community hospitals amid A&E pressures at a main Liberal Democrats protested in 2018 against MIU closure at the town's Community Hospital, with Leominster's MIU shutting at about the same time - with both moves initially a temporary Dem Ed O'Driscoll is now asking councillors - including those on Herefordshire Council - to back the call to bring back the units. Wye Valley Trust, which runs the sites, said it was "aware of the motion". In January, fewer that two in three, 64%, of A&E patients at Hereford County Hospital were seen within four hours, according to NHS November and February, a quarter of ambulances waited more than an hour to hand over patients to the department.O'Driscoll's motion said that previously, Herefordshire's market town community hospitals offered "accessible and efficient urgent care to local residents, while reducing strain on the County Hospital".There was still "huge affection" for the local service in Ross, as well as "support from senior medical staff" for his proposal to restart it, he added. 'No-brainer' Ledbury Community Health Centre continues to provide an MIU service, and Bromyard Community Hospital never had such Dem group leader in Ross-on-Wye Terry James said reopening the closed MIUs was "a no-brainer", adding: "I hope that all political parties on Herefordshire Council will join us in calling on the NHS to sort this out."Jenny Bartlett, Green councillor for Leominster East in which the town's Community Hospital lies, said she was "pleased to see that there is now a motion". An official inspection last year found demand for treatment from both walk-ins and ambulances at County Hospital was "huge and increasing", she added. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Colorado hospitals urge caution
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — The Colorado Hospital Association says hospitals are facing uncertainty and financial instability because of the current federal and state environment. Colorado hospitals and health systems are urging state legislators to take a cautious and considered approach to any new healthcare legislation this session. The state faces a budget shortfall that approaches $1 billion, and forthcoming federal policies could dramatically reduce health care funding to the state. Community Hospital's CEO Chris Thomas tells WesternSlopeNow that with funding being frozen, they will need to be more efficient in how they operate before they cut costs. Before we go after cuts and reducing staff and reducing services, we want to make sure we kicked over every stone. So, where can we work together. You know we're working with Delta Hospital; we're working with Family Health. We're looking at ways to I guess reduce the cost to all of us, how can we collaborate better together, making sure we're not duplicating services. Chris Thomas, Community Hospital CEO All of this comes at a time when 70% of Colorado hospitals operate with small or negative margins, meaning there is limited funding to reinvest in patient care. Hospitals face double-digit increases in costs with stagnant or shrinking reimbursement, especially by Medicare and Medicaid. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
