PATIENTS at Ysbyty Bryn Beryl are benefitting from a more comfortable stay after a former dementia service unit is transformed into a new ward.

Hafan Unit has undergone a complete modern refurbishment that includes a spacious new ward area, as well as a day room.

Work began in June 2018 to improve the environment for patients and staff at the hospital.

This included moving the Dementia Day Assessment Service from the Hafan Unit to join the Ala Road Dementia Day Assessment Service temporarily at the former Hafod Lon School in Y Ffôr, which has since been renamed Hafod Hedd.

Plans are in place to provide permanent, fit for purpose accommodation to house an integrated Dementia and Adult Mental Health Centre as part of the refurbishment project.

Rhona Jones, matron of Ysbyty Bryn Beryl, said: “We are delighted to see the first phase of the work complete. We can already see the huge improvements made and are looking forward to having a much more modern facility later this year.”

Work is now progressing into the second phase at the hospital which includes re-flooring and painting of the existing Dwyfor Ward. Both Ll?n and Dwyfor Wards will then be merged together to create one ward, with the potential to extend in the future to provide more end of life care.

As well as offering a better working environment the refurbishment has allowed more space between beds within the bays and also created storage space for hoists and visitor chairs.

Rhiannon Jordan, one of the first patients to stay on the new ward, said: “The new ward is absolutely lovely, there is a lot of space and the staff are fantastic!”