Health chiefs say they are determined to provide a new chemotherapy unit at Bronglais Hospital after Ceredigion residents “stepped up to the mark” to provide funding.

Hwyel Dda Health Board’s Ceredigion county director Peter Skitt said plans for a new chemotherapy unit were being drawn up with a range of possible locations being considered.

That includes converting the current Y Banwy ward into a new unit, although that would depend on the outcome of a pilot scheme aimed at providing closer links between general medical care and dementia care.

However, Mr Skitt said there was strong support for a new “modern, forward-thinking unit” and said that fundraisers across Ceredigion and the Bronglais catchment area in general had already backed the proposal by raising money.

He said: “The people of Ceredigion have stepped up to the mark yet again.

“The first thing in our mind is that we improve things for our users and not make it worse for them.”

There had been concerns that using Y Banwy as a chemotherapy unit would lead to patients being left isolated in single rooms, but Mr Skitt said if Y Banwy was chosen as the location for a new unit, it would involve the area being completely revamped and would not be retained in the way it is now.

He added that if the pilot scheme for dementia and general medical care was a success it would mean Y Banwy was no longer necessary and could be repurposed as a chemotherapy unit.

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