Health Minister Edwina Hart has announced more than £4.4 million of new Welsh Assembly Government funding to make improvements at two hospitals in West Wales.
The funding will be used to replace the air conditioning plant which cools the operating theatres and the critical care unit at Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli, as well as to upgrade the system which stores and distributes medical gas – including oxygen – around the hospital.
The investment will also be used to replace the heating system at West Wales General, Carmarthen.
Mrs Hart said:
“We need to ensure our hospitals are in the very best condition in order to deliver high quality and sustainable care for patients.
“Without reliable cooling and an efficient supply of oxygen and other gases, a general hospital such as Prince Philip simply cannot function. Replacing the outdated heating system at West Wales General will also help to make the hospital more energy efficient and help to reduce running costs in the long-term.”
Nia Griffith, the Member of Parliament for Llanelli added:
“I very much welcome this investment in the operating theatre and the critical care unit at Prince Philip Hospital, but I am alarmed to hear suggestions that the stroke recovery service could be moving from Prince Philip. I am followng this up urgently with the local health board.”