The new ward, which has 18 beds, including 3 single rooms, has been designed to provide patients with a quiet and calm environment to aid their recovery.
In 2005, Health Commission Wales published the Strategic Review of Neuroscience Services for Wales. The Review highlighted concerns over the sustainability of two neurosurgical centres in South Wales, one in Cardiff and the other in Swansea.
In response to this the Health Minister at the time, Edwina Hart, asked an Independent Review Group led by James Steers to undertake further work and identify the future direction of Neurosciences.
The report of the Welsh Neuroscience External Expert Review Group – Recommendations for Mid and South Wales (The Steers Report) recognised that whilst a good standard of care was being delivered, there was room for improvement and that there should be a single neurosurgical service for South and West Wales.
The report made a number of recommendations, including the strengthening and expansion of non-complex spinal surgical capacity at Morriston Hospital to provide improved local access for patients in Mid and West Wales.
It also recommended the co-location of complex spinal surgery and intra-cranial neurosurgery within an expanded unit on the Cardiff site.
Following these recommendations, the capital funding was identified that would build two theatres plus supporting accommodation and the development of two ward areas accommodation, each ward comprising three, four-bedded rooms with en-suite; ten single bed rooms with en-suite, a quiet room, a staff base/desk and equipment/linen stores, resulting in a total of 55 beds.
With the opening of this new ward, all neurosurgery and neurology inpatient and day treatment services have been brought together in one location, in close proximity to theatre and critical care facilities; to create additional critical care beds.
This is supported by new office accommodation to support the transfer of consultant Neurosurgeons from Morriston Hospital and the provision of teaching facilities in close proximity to the dedicated neurosurgery theatres, with IT links between the seminar room and theatres.
All developments have been funded from the Health and Social Services All-Wales Capital Programme at a total cost of £18.056 million.
Health Minister Lesley Griffiths said:
“This ward is the culmination of hard work and careful planning and will be an invaluable resource in the treatment of head and neck injuries, as well as the continued research into neurosciences.”
Andrea Richards, Directorate Manager for Neurosciences at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said:
“The new facilities and extra staff mean we are providing excellent highly specialised care in an environment designed to our specific needs. It also means we are able to improve infection control and dignity and privacy for patients and deliver single sex accommodation.“The investment has made a real difference to the service we are providing here for people with very serious conditions from across Wales.”