The funding will support the merger of Fishguard and Goodwick surgeries, updating the facilities at the current Fishguard GP practice to accommodate this service change and lead to improved services for patients.
The Health Secretary said:
“Our long-term plan for health and social care in Wales focuses on providing better care, closer to home. The investment at Fishguard Health Centre will do just that. I’m pleased we’re providing £646,000 to assist in updating the Centre and help improve access to local services for patients.”
The investment will also lead to:
- an improved district nursing service by co-locating in the new Health Centre
- direct access to local anti-coagulant clinics, so patients will no longer need to travel to Withybush Hospital
- improved accommodation for community services, including physiotherapy, midwifery and community psychiatric nurse
- opportunities to join staffing, addressing current recruitment challenges caused in part by the two separate practices.
Jill Paterson, Director of Primary Care, Community and Long Term Care at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said:
“On behalf of the health board I am delighted that the Welsh Government has approved this investment for the refurbishment and redevelopment of the Health Centre at Fishguard. This vital work will enable us to strengthen Primary care services in the area and improve the Health Centre’s estate, as well as providing joint staffing opportunities. Patients will have less need to travel to Withybush General Hospital for anti-coagulant clinics as we will be able to provide direct access at the Health Centre, whilst there will also be improved accommodation for a range of Community services including physiotherapy, health visiting, district nursing, a heart failure nurse, midwifery, podiatry, community psychiatric nurse, audiology, the leg ulcer service and diabetic retinopathy service.”
Today’s announcement forms part of the biggest targeted investment in primary and community care infrastructure by the Welsh Government. Earlier this year 19 projects were approved to deliver health and care services closer to people’s homes.
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