A RHYL hospital is to close to overnight patients following an announcement by NHS bosses.
North Wales NHS Trust has revealed that its plans to close Royal Alexandra Hospital on the town’s East Parade to overnight patients from November with neighbouring community hospitals in Prestatyn and Holywell being asked to take in inpatients.
A spokeswoman for the Trust said a two page briefing looking at the future of the Alex revealed concerns over fire safety had been a factor in deciding to close the hospital to patients.
North Wales NHS bosses are promising the move doesn’t signal the eventual closure of the seafront hospital but would instead see a commitment to alternative ‘daytime’ services including speech and occupational therapy, physiotherapy and x-ray taking place on site.
The spokeswoman said: “Nothing has changed.
“It’s only the inpatient or remaining overnight ward that will close.”
The remaining Nightingale-style ward, Ward 1, has 23 beds.
The larger Ward 2, which boasted 28 beds, was closed in July following news it had failed to meet fire safety standards.
Uncertainty over the future of the Royal Alexandra Hospital has led to a campaign site being established on a social networking site.
The Facebook site called Save the Alex Hospital has more than 125 members within days of its launch.
Matt Wright, prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for the Vale of Clwyd, has attended meetings with NHS bosses over what he calls “hasty and vague” plans to close the wards at the Royal Alex.
Cllr John Bellis, of Rhyl East ward on Rhyl Town Council, which is scheduled to hold a special meeting behind closed doors this week to discuss the matter, has also attended the meetings and is unsatisfied about the potential ward closures on fire safety grounds.
He said: "I am not happy with the explanations given to us about the hospital. We are anxious to know what is happening.
"We all know somebody who has been treated at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. We are the largest town in Denbighshire. There needs to be a bed facility in Rhyl and as much care in the community as possible.
"I cannot attend the meeting at Rhyl Town Council this week but would expect my fellow councillors to put pressure on those speaking about what is going on."
Along with Matt Wright and Denbighshire County Councillor Ann Davies, of Rhuddlan, Cllr Bellis is due to meet Trust representatives again in October.
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