A new 60-bed mental health unit for older people at the Cefn Coed Hospital in Swansea has been given the go ahead with more than £19million funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.
The proposals, by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, are part of its plans to improve mental health facilities in Swansea.
The new unit will provide specialised assessment, treatment and rehabilitation services for older patients with dementia and other mental health conditions and will replace outdated facilities at Cefn Coed Hospital and at Garngoch Hospital, Gorseinon.
It will be designed to reflect a domestic and homely environment to best care for patients, who will often be required to stay for long periods of time, sometimes up to 18 months or longer.
Highly specialised psychiatric nursing and therapeutic care will be delivered in dedicated areas to ensure the dignity and privacy of patients is upheld and includes increased visiting areas, with facilities for family to stay if their relative is particularly ill or in the end stages of their life.
The Health Minister, Edwina Hart, said:
“This new facility will greatly improve services as well as the care environment for people with dementia and other mental health conditions in the Swansea area.
“I am dedicated to transforming mental health services in Wales and this investment will contribute to that – improving the care, privacy, dignity and access to support services that patients deserve.
“The developments are in line with our commitment to improve mental health services and support for people living with dementia.”
This is the latest investment by the Assembly Government to support the Reshape Mental Health Services in Swansea programme.
It is expected the new unit will open later this year.
In December, £10million Assembly Government funding was awarded for the creation of an 18-bed “slow-stream” rehabilitation facility and two four-bed “step down” units at Cefn Coed Hospital.
Win Griffiths, chair of Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, added:
“We are delighted the Welsh Assembly Government has supported this very important development in the grounds of Cefn Coed Hospital. It is a state-of-the-art facility, which has been purposely designed and built for patients with dementia type illnesses, to provide them with a safe and top quality environment.”
