Hospital stops taking in-patients

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/8167152.stm

Version 0 of 1.

In-patient facilities at a community hospital are to close after a fire safety report said they were not up to modern-day standards.

North Wales NHS Trust said out-patient facilities will stay at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Rhyl, Denbighshire.

But in-patients will move to other hospitals, including Holywell, Colwyn Bay, Prestatyn and Glan Clwyd Hospital.

No jobs will be lost with the closure and new facilities will eventually be built at the Royal Alexandra.

MP for the area Chris Ruane said trust chief executive Mary Burrows had reassured him that the extra facilities would be built on land behind the hospital.

'Extra funds'

"I can understand the trust has to improve safety for patients, but I hope that any disruption to patients and their families is kept to a minimum," he said.

"I will support the trust in seeking extra funds to replace the facility with a new building at the rear of the hospital and I have had reassurances that existing building, which is listed, will remain. "

Mr Ruane said he had also been reassured that no staff would lose their jobs as a result of the closure.

The hospital, which dates back to 1872, currently has 53 beds in two wards and has X-ray, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and dental facilities.

It specialises in slow-stream rehabilitation as well as palliative and continuing care.