Morriston Hospital is a 750 bed hospital located in Cwmrhydyceirw near Morriston in Swansea, Wales. Morriston is the largest hospital in the city and county of Swansea and is operated by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust. Alongside its role as a district general hospital, Morriston is a teaching hospital for medical students of Swansea University School of Medicine. Most services are housed in buildings constructed since 1981.
The hospital is the site of the major Accident and Emergency Department for Swansea and is recognised as the major trauma centre for South West Wales. In addition to general surgical and medical services, Morriston houses the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery and one of the two Cardiac Centres in Wales and one of three centres (ALACs) of the Wales Artificial Limb & Appliance Service. Other services include renal medicine, neurology and neurosurgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, rheumatology and palliative care. The Tŷ Olwen hospice, a Swansea charity, is located here.
The Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery
The Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery provides a care for a population of 2.3 million across West, Mid and South Wales. The centre moved to Swansea from St. Lawrence Hospital, Chepstow in 1994 and treats approximately 750 people a year, of which half need inpatient treatment.
Future plans
A number of the buildings in Morriston Hospital date back to 1941. There are plans to demolish these World War II buildings and replace them with modern premises, and improve the roads leading to and within the hospital site. Improved accommodation will be provided for the Endoscopy suite, Out-patients, Discharge lounge, Multi-professional Education centre, Medical records, Social Services offices, Care Co-ordination Centre, new main entrance, and the Dispensary.
Design
The main building is an example of the Nucleus hospital design which emerged after the energy crisis in the 1970s. It consists of low-rise cruciform blocks forming square modules. Each has a courtyard and abuts a long central corridor. The nucleus design was intended to allow such buildings to be extended easily by adding more modules and to save energy by maximising natural light and ventilation. The Nucleus building at Morriston was announced in December 1976 and planning permission granted in March 1978. Construction began in 1981 and the building opened in October 1985.
