PLANS to redevelop and improve services for thousands of patients at Ruthin Community Hospital have been revealed.

The Welsh Government has approved £3million to build a health and wellbeing centre at the hospital, which will relocate services from three community hubs in Ruthin, as well as a new on-site premises for Mount Street Clinic surgery which caters for nearly 3,000 patients.

The plan is aimed at reducing travel for patients and staff between sites for appointments and diagnostics, making treatment easier and more accessible. It will also end services at the Mount Street surgery, which was deemed ‘not fit for purpose’ in an estates review in 2016.

As well as GP appointments, the new health and wellbeing centre will provide: health visitor services, mental health services for older people, improved therapy facilities, expanded physiotherapy and podiatry, on-site space for third sector services such as mother and toddler groups, improved facilities for families of inpatients, and on-site training for GPs.

The plan is also expected to include the expansion of car parking facilities.

It guarantees the long-term future of the hospital following the closure of its minor injuries unit in 2012 and a BCUHB review of community services.

Vaughan Gething, the Welsh Government health minister, said the redevelopment will “deliver care closer to home and will make it easier [for patients] to access diverse services like screening, physiotherapy and podiatry directly as well as seeing their GPs.”

Dr Peter Leatt, senior partner at The Clinic, one of three GPs and a practice nurse expected to move to Ruthin Community Hospital, said the redevelopment is an “exciting time” for staff and patients.

“This investment will make a real difference to our registered patients with improved and modernised healthcare facilities,” he said.

“The new building means that we have the potential to start offering training for GPs helping to protect the sustainability of general practice. It also means we will have scope to increase the range of services we provide, such as minor surgery, family planning and other therapy services which we can begin to develop further now that the funding has been confirmed.”

Services at Plas Meddyg Surgery in the town will not be affected by the redevelopment.

Stephen Beech, Ruthin town councillor, said there is “optimism” over the plan in the community.

“This is a brilliant outcome for Ruthin as it was only a few years ago that the hospital faced closure,” he said. “Now it will become sustainable with services being integrated and expanded.”

Mr Beech said patients at the Mount Street surgery have had to wait several weeks to book appointments, however he expects it will now be possible “within a week”.

“Hopefully the improved facilities will also attract doctors to the area,” he added.

Emrys Wynne, county councillor for Ruthin, said: “The planned development will provide much improved facilities for [Mount Street] Clinic, with improved parking for users of GP services as well as other health issues, including mental health issues.

“Progressing these improved facilities has taken a long time but I’m now confident that the Ruthin Hospital site will be providing enhanced health and wellbeing services for residents of Ruthin and nearby communities.”

Cllr Wynne added that the redevelopment “will enable BCUHB to consider the future use of the Mount Street site”.