Friday, 14 May 2004
Mental health services in Rhondda Cynon Taf were brought into the 21st Century today when First Minister Rhodri Morgan, accompanied by Health & Social Services Minister Jane Hutt, officially opened the new Mental Health Unit at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital.
The new facility will provide acute adult mental health services, outpatient and day hospital facilities in an 87-bed unit. The unit is part of a wider scheme which also includes two ten place satellite units at Trealaw and Pontypridd. The scheme costing, £15.2 million, was funded from the Welsh Assembly Government's All Wales Capital programme.
Opening the new Unit the First Minister said: "Last year the Welsh Assembly Government published its key policy document "Wales: A Better Country". Within this we gave our commitment to a radical programme of reform for the NHS in Wales.
"A key part of these reforms is ensuring that health and social services across Wales meet the needs of local people. The Royal Glamorgan Mental Health Unit is an excellent example of this reform in practice with a modern facility specifically tailored to meet the needs of people living locally.
"I was also pleased to hear that service users have been fully involved in designing the clinical and living areas within the Unit. Such involvement is crucial if we are to take forward our services in the way we have outlined in our Mental Health Strategy and National Service Framework.
"Today marks a new beginning for mental health services in Rhondda Cynon Taf, with new facilities and new models of care fit for the 21st Century and that is what is being provided here."
Supporting the First Minister's comments Jane Hutt said: "The opening of this Unit indicates to me real progress in realising the vision that the Welsh Assembly Government has set out in its Mental Health Strategy and NSF. This development is an excellent example of how our mental health priority is being turned into real improvement from the ground.
"This new state of the art hospital complex will ensure that patients will receive care and treatment from a highly qualified and expert group of staff who will ensure that patients are provided with safety, privacy and dignity."
Opening the new Unit the First Minister said: "Last year the Welsh Assembly Government published its key policy document "Wales: A Better Country". Within this we gave our commitment to a radical programme of reform for the NHS in Wales.
"A key part of these reforms is ensuring that health and social services across Wales meet the needs of local people. The Royal Glamorgan Mental Health Unit is an excellent example of this reform in practice with a modern facility specifically tailored to meet the needs of people living locally.
"I was also pleased to hear that service users have been fully involved in designing the clinical and living areas within the Unit. Such involvement is crucial if we are to take forward our services in the way we have outlined in our Mental Health Strategy and National Service Framework.
"Today marks a new beginning for mental health services in Rhondda Cynon Taf, with new facilities and new models of care fit for the 21st Century and that is what is being provided here."
Supporting the First Minister's comments Jane Hutt said: "The opening of this Unit indicates to me real progress in realising the vision that the Welsh Assembly Government has set out in its Mental Health Strategy and NSF. This development is an excellent example of how our mental health priority is being turned into real improvement from the ground.
"This new state of the art hospital complex will ensure that patients will receive care and treatment from a highly qualified and expert group of staff who will ensure that patients are provided with safety, privacy and dignity."
Source:
Welsh Assembly Government
