Plaid Cymru councillors in the town of Wrexham have launched a bid to transform the derelict Groves school site in the heart of the town into a much-needed community hospital.
The councillors say the redevelopment would ease pressure on Ysbyty Wrecsam Maelor and provide step-down care for patients who no longer need acute hospital beds.
Cllr Marc Jones, Plaid Cymru’s group leader on Wrexham Council, said:
“The Groves site has lain derelict for more than a decade, and there has been a lot of speculation about what it could be used for. Various schemes have fallen through and there's no sign of anything positive being done with this important town-centre site. At the same time, we all recognise that the Maelor is under huge pressures – in part because of a lack of community options to move people out of acute beds.”
Cllr Carrie Harper added:
“Creating a community hospital provides a way to release that pressure – it’s vital we unblock the logjam that means ambulances are stuck outside A&E for hours, while patients who are fit to be discharged can’t leave hospital. It would also help to address the parking congestion at the Maelor.”
The councillors acknowledge there are challenges in delivering such a project, including the initial costs and staffing. A similar plan for a community hospital at the old Alex site in Rhyl is estimated to cost £102 million. However, they argue that the investment is vital to provide much-needed relief for the over-stretched Maelor.
Cllr Harper said:
“Staffing a new facility will be challenging given existing nursing and clinical vacancies, but we believe there is scope to work with Wrexham University, which provides training for nurses and allied health professionals such as paramedics and radiographers, to ensure guaranteed jobs for graduates.”
The local councillor for Acton and Maesydre, Becca Martin, whose ward includes The Groves, said:
“I fully support this type of development on The Groves site. The Maelor has a consistent shortage of beds, which has a knock-on effect throughout the hospital. Freeing up these beds by utilising this site should result in a faster and smoother experience for patients. I would also welcome the development of a site that has been left dormant and neglected for far too long.”
Cllr Jones added that a new hospital would bring new life to the derelict site:
“Ensuring a training and educational aspect to the site would meet the educational covenant and provide joined-up thinking between our institutions to benefit the people of Wrexham. Better healthcare also has a positive knock-on effect for social care commitments. Minor injuries, rehabilitation, and preventative care could be located at the community hospital rather than overloading one limited site."
“This is an opportunity to do something that will benefit hundreds of people who don’t need to be in an acute bed and bring a derelict building back into use. We hope the community hospital proposal will be seriously considered and developed for the mutual benefit of Wrexham residents.”
Take Action:
If you want to support this campaign and help bring a community hospital to The Groves, you can sign the petition here to call on Plaid Cymru councillors’ proposals to be taken forward.