Powys County Council and Powys teaching Health Board welcome the announcement by the Welsh Assembly Government of a capital grant of £4.9 million to fund the construction of a new integrated health and social care centre in Builth Wells.
Plans for the integrated facility have been developed over the past few years with close engagement from representatives of the local community, including local GPs. The new centre will ensure a significant improvement in the range of services available for people in the town and its surrounding area.
It is planned that this innovative new centre will be built as an extension to the Council’s Brynhyfryd care home which currently has 30 beds. The additional services accommodated there will include:
- An Integrated Health and Social Care Team comprising district nursing, domiciliary, social care and reablement teams.
- A third sector advisory service.
- A suite for outpatient and therapy services
- Minor surgery suite in support of the local GP practice.
- A General Dental Practice.
- A “Wellbeing Suite” for group based health education, therapy, reablement and day support services
- 12 en-suite care home rooms providing flexible nursing or residential care for those who cannot be cared for at home.
Having this development on the same site as the residential care home, which is a short walk away from the Builth Wells GP Surgery, forms a campus of services and offers greater convenience for the public.
Councillor Rosemarie Harris, Chair of the Builth Project Board said: “A lot of work has gone into the development of this innovative new service. Close engagement with the community has, quite rightly, led to strong local expectations. We are delighted that the Welsh Assembly Government has now supported us to turn our exciting new concept into a reality. As plans develop we will ensure the needs of current residents of Brynhyfryd continue to be met and that any disruption to their residence is kept to an absolute minimum.”
Chris Mann, Chair of Powys teaching Health Board Commented: “The work that has been undertaken in Builth Wells to develop an integrated model of health and social care has paved the way for the delivery of modern and sustainable services across the rest of the county. Health and social Care partners remain committed to extending the development of integrated services for the people of Powys”.
Powys County Council will now appoint architects to complete the designs, apply for planning permission and seek appropriate contractors. It is hoped that the majority of the new building can be complete by the end of 2012.
