Medium Secure Psychiatric Facilities (Hansard, 14 June 1984)

§ Mr. Wyn Roberts

The Welsh Office has today issued for public consultation a paper that reassess the demand for such facilities in Wales and ways in which that demand might best be met by development over the next decade. The paper concludes that, in addition to the existing provision, three or four further units should be established, each of 15 to 20 beds, at a total capital cost of some £2 million and involving annual revenue expenditure in excess of £1 million. These would provide cover for the whole of Wales and would mean establishing one unit in west Wales, two in south-east Wales and possibly (depending on whether there are to be three or four units in total) one in north Wales in addition to the existing provision of the north Wales hospital, Denbigh. They would almost certainly be newly constructed, but built within the grounds of existing hospitals whose services they would share. No specific sites have yet been suggested. Following decisions by my right hon. Friend on these general proposals, an option appraisal will be conducted by the Welsh Office to determine the most appropriate sites. The proposals emerging from that will be the subject of further detailed consultation. Detailed operational guidelines and designs will also be decided at that stage. Comments have been requested on the first stage in the consultation process by Friday 5 Octcber 1984.

My right hon. Friend has also approved plans to refurbish and expand Garth Angharad hospital at a cost of some £1.3 million. The hospital caters principally for young, mildly mentally handicapped adults with behavioural problems and, in many cases, a propensity to offend. The expansion will increase its capacity from 19 beds to 30, enabling it to treat some female patients for the first time. These proposals have already been the subject of public consultation by the Gwynedd health authority and work will begin as soon as possible once remaining design details have been decided.