Cardigan Hospital's inpatients ward closed on Friday.

Hywel Dda University Health Board has says it has commissioned inpatient beds in a range of nursing and residential homes in south Ceredigion, which will include the patients’ own homes.

Chief Executive Trevor Purt said: "Work will start on the new £15m Cardigan health and social care facility in April next year and will be a massive improvement.

“Cardigan is in a pivotal position. We want to make it the centre for running out-of-hospital services. The new facility will have outpatient clinics, a centre for GPs and District Nurses, diagnostics, physiotherapy and a pharmacy. Architects have already been appointed.”

Outpatient services will continue to be provided within Cardigan Hospital and will remain until they transfer to the planned integrated care centre. There are no plans to close Cardigan Hospital until the new services are in place.

Local District Nursing teams attached to the GP practices will co-ordinate services that are required, including admissions, and will be supported by community and therapy services.

Nursing staff will be redeployed to deliver care within community settings and support the future model of care.

Hywel Dda says that good progress is continuing in developing the new service model in Cardigan which, coupled with a new purpose build at the Bath House site, is the University Health Board’s flagship development and has the potential to be the model for future community services.

A project board is in place to lead this work and is continuing to engage with staff and stakeholders about the new development.