A brand new facility has been opened in north Pembrokeshire to enable local people to get back on their feet and return home after suffering a serious illness or injury.

The facility consists of two intermediate care flats – the first of their kind in Pembrokeshire, and providing a radical new approach to care.

They are part of the new Bro Preseli extra care scheme in Crymych, which was visited on Thursday by Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas.

The highly-equipped flats will offer short-term care (maximum of up to six weeks) aiming to maximise people’s independence and reduce hospital admissions.

They are for Pembrokeshire residents who need intensive rehabilitation and re-ablement to avoid being admitted to hospital, or following their discharge from hospital.

They are also for elderly people who have sustained a fracture or similar injury, or people with an acquired disability who require short term rehabilitative support while adaptations are carried out at their home.

The flagship resource is a ‘reablement hub’ for Pembrokeshire County Council’s Adult Social Care and Hywel Dda University Health Board.

It has been funded through the Welsh Government’s Intermediate Care Fund, which has provided £8.8 million for intermediate care services across Mid and West Wales.

Councillor Simon Hancock, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Well-Being and Equalities, said: “These much-needed flats are designed to help people regain their independence in a private setting, yet with first-class care and a supportive rehabilitation environment. Most importantly, they will enable them to return home.”

He added: “Not only do they have state-of-the-art equipment such as fully-accessible showers and adjustable beds, but they also provide soothing and restful surroundings which are important for people’s emotional wellbeing.”

The care and support is provided by Pembrokeshire County Council, which also supplied capital funding for the modifications to the flats, and the landlords are the Family Housing Association.

Martyn Palfreman, Regional Programme Manager for the Mid and West Wales Health and Social Care Collaborative said: “This is a great example of the Intermediate Care Fund (ICF) bringing a range of partners together to give people short term focused care, to enable them to return home as quickly as possible."

The two intermediate care flats are a small element of the new £9million Bro Preseli extra care scheme run by the Family Housing Association, which opened last week.

The scheme has 40 one and two bedroom apartments for rent, a health centre, restaurant, a large lounge, shop, well-being room, craft and hobby room, library space and laundry – much of which is available for members of the public to use too.

Bro Preseli forms part of Pembrokeshire County Council’s programme to provide four extra care schemes throughout the county as part of the Older Person’s Strategy. It will be officially opened in November.