£370,000 invested in new outpatient area

11:20am Wednesday 14th March 2007

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Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust is investing £370,000 in extra outpatient accommodation at Withybush Hospital.

The new outpatient area will be next to the existing department and will be crucial in helping to reduce waiting times by 2009.

Acting chief executive Caroline Oakley said: "As a trust, we are determined to reduce outpatient waiting times in line with national targets. We are currently on track to achieve our targets for this year and this additional facility will help us to reduce outpatient waiting times still further in the future.

"Alongside the new A&E and MRI scanner facilities, this is yet more evidence of continued financial investment into healthcare services locally."

As part of the modernisation programme, NHS trusts across Wales are charged with reducing waiting times to a maximum of 26 weeks from the time of referral.

The £370,000 outpatient accommodation will provide increased capacity to hold additional clinics, alleviate pressure on existing clinics and create the potential to see more patients.

To support this, a number of enhancements to outpatient services are being proposed including an increased number of nurse-led outpatient sessions, expansion of pre-assessment clinics and the transfer of some appropriate minor procedures from day surgery theatre.

Mrs Oakley added: "This new facility will provide a much better environment for both outpatients and staff and will support improved ways of working between specialist nurses and therapists. Above all, it will help to reduce outpatient waiting times which is something all our patients want."