Builth Wells hospital: In-patient unit's temporary transfer

The new health centre will replace Builth Wells Community Hospital next year

An in-patient unit is being temporarily transferred from a Powys hospital to enable staff to prepare for the opening of a new health centre.

Powys Teaching Local Health Board said the unit would switch from Builth Wells to Llandrindod Wells hospital.

Last year it was announced that Builth's hospital would be replaced by a £4.9m health centre.

The new facility opens next year when the in-patient unit will transfer back to the town, says the health board.

The new medical unit in Builth will provide a base for a wide range of health and social care services, the board said.

The scheme will bring together services provided by the health board and Powys council.

The project aims to reduce the number of patients who have to travel outside Powys for treatment and cut the number of hospital admissions.

But many of the staff at Builth Wells hospital need additional training so they can work with social services and in the community.

A health board spokesman said: "To allow them time to be suitably trained for the opening of the new facility, it is necessary to free them up from their work on the ward from January 2013.

"In order to do this, it is proposed that the in-patient service will be transferred to Llandrindod Wells in January, where additional beds and staff will be made available to accommodate the additional patients.

"Once the new facility in Builth Wells is open later in 2013 the care will be transferred back to Builth Wells.

"This temporary change will not affect any other services currently run on an out-patient basis from Builth Wells, which will continue to run as normal until they transfer to the new facility."

Builth hospital has a seven-bed bay, an eight-bed bay and two single side bays.