Changes are planned to Bronglais Hospital’s Enlli Ward, which it is hoped will provide improved care for patients with dementia and other mental health issues.

It had been rumoured that the changes would see a significant cut in beds in the ward, and there were concerns that some patients were already being moved to other hospitals in the board area, But Hywel Dda Health Board’s director of operations, Joe Teape, said that the board was in fact looking to increase bed numbers “in the short term”.

He said: “We have been actively engaging with relevant staff on an exciting new model of care for our patients in Bronglais Hospital.

“Bronglais continues to offer inpatient care for people living with dementia and mental health patients and we are not aware of anyone having to be placed elsewhere for treatment.

“A trial, part of a quality and improvement programme, is currently being formed and will look at a shared physical and mental health model of care for patients who receive their care on Enlli Ward and have acute, physical health conditions. The majority of these patients have dementia and a small number are mental health patients.

“This will include additional funding for extra registered mental health nurses who will offer an outreach service to support patients on the wards, providing more effectively integrated care.

“This is a localised version of a nationally recognised model for people living with dementia.

“In the short term, we are initially seeking to increase the number of beds on Enlli Ward and to provide a much-needed family room with enhanced end-of-life care options for our most unwell patients."

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