A HOSPITAL's new hybrid theatre and vascular ward described as one of the best equipped in the UK has officially opened.
The new theatre, at Glan Clwyd Hospital, which forms part of a number of changes being made to vascular services in North Wales, was opened by Health Minister Vaughan Gething on Thursday, April 11.
With expertise and facilities available around the clock, the centre has been designed to treat complex arterial cases. It will give Interventional Radiologists and Vascular Surgeons the ability to perform traditional, open surgery and minimally invasive endovascular procedures on the same patients, at the same time, in the same place.
Wales Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services Vaughan Gething AM officially opens a new vascular surgical ward and theatre at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Picture: Geoff Abbott, GA110419D.
The theatre has received £2.26m funding from the Welsh Government and a charitable donation of £500,000 from the Livsey Trust.
Mr Gething said: "Investment has been made into new equipment and technology to ensure the best possible service is in place.
"The investment we have made has already attracted new staff and will provide a solid base to build local delivery and improve patient outcomes. These new arrangements put the needs of patients first by ensuring excellent services which will be sustainable in the longer term.
Ann Jones AM, vascular surgeons Laszlo Papp and Soroush Sohrabi with Health Minister Vaughan Gething AM. Picture: Geoff Abbott, GA110419D
The reorganisation of vascular service in North Wales has resulted in a number of benefits, including:
Six additional Consultant Vascular Surgeons; an additional Consultant interventional Radiologist; Four Vascular Junior Doctors; Additional Vascular Specialist Nurses; An additional dedicated 18-bed Vascular Ward; An additional Vascular Imaging Scientist; An additional Critical Care Bed to provide additional capacity and new interventional Radiology suites at both Glan Clwyd Hospital and Ysbyty Gwynedd.
Marion Wyn Jones, Joanne Garzoni, Vaughan Gething AM, Vernon Oliver, Ann Jones AM and Angela Jones. Picture: Geoff Abbott, GA110419D
The theatre will also support and provide surgical training.
Soroush Sohrabi, North Wales Vascular Network clinical director, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Health Minister to Glan Clwyd Hospital to see a service which will improve the outcomes for vascular surgery patients across North Wales.
"We have been really successful in recruiting a skilled group of medical, nursing, therapeutic and support staff to deliver this service, and we are now looking forward to welcoming patients here."
A 24-hour-a-day, 7-days-a-week consultant vascular emergency rota will run from Glan Clwyd Hospital.
Emergency cover was previously provided from Ysbyty Gwynedd and Wrexham Maelor Hospital on an alternating basis.
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