CONCERNS over the proposed site for the new Cardigan Hospital have been voiced by town councillors.

A presentation and update was given to Cardigan Town Council at their May meeting last week by the chairman of the Hywel Dda University Health Board, Bernadine Rees, and county director for Ceredigion Community Services Hywel Dda University Health Board, Gill Davies.

And among matters raised, councillors shared concerns that the ground for the new hospital at Bath House was not suitable to be built on because of the springs there.

Councillor Melfydd George said: “Whoever heard of a building getting built on a bog, it just won’t work.”

This view represented the feelings of the entire town council and the views of many local residents.

Deputy mayor John Adam Lewis said: “I do not understand why this site has been chosen after we offered up free sites to be built on.

“The Teifi Business Park was one very good option.”

But Bernadine Rees said: “We recognise that it is a concern, but backtracking on plans and going back to site discussions may mean this new hospital never happens.

“I ask the council for their support in this hospital because we need to work together to be successful and get the facilities local people deserve.”

The Hywel Dda representatives also discussed the “improved training” for nurses and the care that patients now receive in Cardigan, as well as the increased variety of clinics being offered at the hospital.

They said there are now more clinics available at Cardigan Hospital, with specialist GPs coming from Cardiff and Swansea, and that these extra clinics included a motor neurone disease clinic and a specialist leg clinic.

There was also an emphasis on the improved training of community nursing, with nurses being trained in Swansea and Cardiff and coming back with better care skills.

Ms Rees said that a lot of the nurses have even gone into specialist training after they raised interest in specific areas of health care.

Councillor Clive Davies said: “It is great to hear about the variety of clinics and that the impact of pressure on nursing didn’t come to fruition.”

Hywel Dda will be holding its Sgwrs Iach — Let’s Talk Health event for Cardigan residents on May 21, from 2 to 5pm at the Great Hall, Guildhall.

Ms Rees added: “After the first round of these meetings at the beginning of the year we have learned a lot.

“We understand it’s not one model fits all for those areas in the care of Hywel Dda Health Board and we want to listen to the public.”