THE GOVERNMENT has confirmed funding of nearly £4m for a new primary healthcare centre in Blaenau Ffestiniog - but the new facility will not have any beds.

A new community health centre is to be built in the Meirionnydd town with £3.9m of funding from the Welsh Government, health and social services minister Mark Drakeford announced today (Wednesday).

The primary care resource centre is to be built on the site of Blaenau Memorial Hospital.

Local campaigners have been calling for the reinstatement of the 12 inpatient beds and X-ray unit at the memorial hospital since they were removed at the beginning of 2013.

The Welsh Government says that the new centre is being established following public consultation and supports its vision for the health service of providing care in the community and closer to people’s homes.

There will be improved integration with primary care, community care, social services and voluntary care in one site, they say.

The new centre will include improved GP services with the ability to expand and improve recruitment; consultant-led palliative care and better children’s services in a dedicated suite.

The medical facility will also see the return of learning disability services to Blaenau, with a regular consultant psychiatrist clinic which will provide a new base for treatment of mental health and substance misuse with increased group sessions.

There is also the scope to create new community dental accommodation.

Health minister Mr Drakeford said: “The new primary care resource centre at Blaenau Ffestiniog will provide an expanded range of health services from one site, from paediatric services, palliative care, child and adult mental health services through to telemedicine facilities.

Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board’s chairman, Peter Higson, said: “We are confident that the state-of-the-art development will improve primary and community services for the residents of the town, delivering a wider range of health, social care and voluntary services in fit for purpose premises. “