Hywel Dda new hospital is delayed, chief executive confirms

The strategy included the development of community hubs and refreshing Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and Bronglais hospital in Aberystwyth.

It also included repurposing Glangwili General Hospital and Withybush, and constructing the new hospital.

The health board asked the Welsh government for £1.3bn in investment to implement the changes.

Mr Kloer made the comments at a health board meeting, where members decided to “refresh” the strategy which outlines the future configuration of services.

He said it “would be wrong to plough on with the same thinking” in light of the impact of Covid and other reasons including changes in demography and climate change.

A paper presented by Executive Director of Strategy and Planning Lee Davies points out that the costs of delivering the original strategy had increased due to inflation.

It added that “although a phased implementation may increase the overall cost of the programme”, a phased development may make it “more affordable for the Welsh government”.

It said that it may have to review the location of the new hospital despite a lengthy public consultation being held to create a shortlist of two possible sites.

The decision to review the strategy was discussed at the same meeting as the health board confirmed a deficit of £64m in its accounts, despite the delivery of £32.4m in savings.