Work begins to pave way for Welshpool Hospital renal unit plan

Groundwork which will help pave the way for a proposed renal dialysis unit to be opened in a Mid Wales town has begun, it was revealed today.

The new unit could open at Welshpool Hospital if plans for it are approved.

Enabling work has started so that, if the unit gets the go-ahead from the Welsh Assembly, work can start without delay.

Powys teaching Local Health Board said it was carrying out work on the hospital car park and while the builders were there some work would be carried out preparing for a possible unit.

Pat Tempest, a spokeswoman for the LHB, said: "Work has not started on the renal unit at Welshpool yet.

"We are currently doing some work on the car park and while we are doing this we are carrying out some enabling works."

Glyn Davies, Montgomeryshire MP, said a new unit would mean huge relief to dozens of residents who now have to travel to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

He said: "They are still awaiting a Welsh Assembly announcement. I have been under the impression that this would come before the end of the year, allowing work to be carried out in the near future."

A new unit was ann-ounced more than three years ago after the Welsh Assembly approved plans, but funding was never allocated. But last year the Assembly said dialysis provision for Powys had been listed as a priority and set aside £2.6 million for it.

A Welsh Assembly spokeswoman confirmed no announcement had been made and no date was currently set for an announcement.