The new Aberconwy ward at Llandudno General Hospital will be officially opened on Thursday, 22 April, 2004.

The 27 bed care of the elderly ward has been built at a cost of £500,000 and has involved a total refurbishment of the ground floor medical block to create a modern ward with facilities that meets all the building standards and Health and Safety requirements within an environment which is both therapeutic and friendly.

The cost of refurbishing and relocating the ward were met by funds bequeathed in a legacy left by Mary Violet Davies and Grace Myfanwy Davies of Rowen as well as additional money from the North West Wales NHS Trust’s capital programme and endowment funds.

In addition, the hospital’s League of Friends has donated £60,000 for the purchase of furniture and furnishings for the ward.

Trust Chief Executive, Mr Keith Thomson said: “I am delighted that the new ward has been completed, and also pleased to see that Mrs Effie Rowlands, the chairman of the League of Friends has agreed to perform the official opening. The League of Friends has been very supportive, and I would like to thank them especially for all their assistance with this project.”

The ward includes two 6-bed bays, three 4-bed bays and 3 single rooms. It also includes permanent facilities such as piped oxygen and suction.

This development follows the opening last summer of the new £3.4 million building at the hospital which included two wards and a rehabilitation department.

This is the latest in a number of new developments at the Llandudno General Hospital site. New catering facilities worth £400,000 have been opened as well as new on-call accommodation for doctors at a cost of £200,000 which involved constructing 8 bedrooms with en-suite facilities as well as a kitchen/dining area and lounge for doctors staying at the hospital. A new telephone, television, radio and internet system for each bed called “Patientline” has been installed, which has been fitted to the new Aberconwy ward and the new wing of the hospital.

Mr Thomson added: “Together, all these projects represent an impressive investment of over £4.5 million on the Llandudno General Hospital site. The Trust is particularly pleased to have achieved these significant developments at the hospital.”