Hospital future decision must wait until after Senedd poll

LONG WAIT GOES ON FOR PATIENTS AND STAFF... BUT THERE'S NO OPTION TO REOPEN INPATIENT BEDS

- By DALE SPRIDGEON Local Democracy Reporter

UNCERTAINTY looks set to continues for staff and patients over the future of a rural hospital in Gwynedd.

It comes as decisions over proposals for Tywyn Community Hospital could be delayed until after the Senedd elections.

Shortlisted options for the hospital could form part of a formal public consultation process after the ballot, but reinstating inpatient beds is not an option that made the shortlist.

The temporary closure of the Dyfi Ward in April, 2023, due to workforce shortages and reliance on agency staff, triggered a review of the hospital services and prompted a local outcry.

New services were later introduced, including expanded inpatient capacity at Dolgellau Hospital, the Tuag Adref community service, a treatment room, a reopened minor injuries unit, and wellbeing facilities, a Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board report noted.

Presenting the document on Thursday, November 27, Paolo Tardivel, interim executive director of transformation & strategic planning, told the board, that despite recruitment efforts "reopening the inpatient ward remained challenging due to workforce resilience and sustainability concerns".

He described how stakeholder sessions called 'Balanced Room' had been held to help to design" and appraise" five shortlisted options.

They had been whittled down to three options - but these did not include reopening beds.