Health minister Mark Drakeford has praised the newly-opened Bro Preseli extra-care facility in Crymych, Pembrokeshire.

Speaking in the Senedd, Cardiff Bay, he described the supported housing–health service complex as an “absolutely outstanding example” of services working together.

Mr Drakeford made the comment in answer to a question by Mid and West Wales AM Joyce Watson.

At Assembly Question Time (20 May), Mrs Watson asked how the Welsh Government’s intermediate care fund, which aims to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions, is being spent in Mid and West Wales:

“The Bro Preseli extra healthcare scheme in Crymych is one scheme benefitting from the fund…how is the fund helping the third sector and other partners to support the work of the statutory service?”, she asked.

In January the Welsh Government announced an extra £20m for the intermediate care fund.

More than eight millions pounds has been given to the Mid and West Wales region.

Some of the money went towards modifying two of the extra care flats at the Bro Preseli Community Care Resource Centre.

Mr Drakeford responded: “I thank Joyce Watson for that. I have myself visited the Bro Preseli extra-care facility in Pembrokeshire, and it’s an absolutely outstanding example of what can be achieved by different public services working together. It draws extensively on the work of the third sector in its immediate locality to make sure that those people who are living in that extra-care facility are as well-connected to their local community as they can be.”

The state-of-the-art Crymych centre, which officially opened last November, comprises a GP practice, a day centre and 40 purpose-built extra care flats.

With access to 24-hour support and care, residents are supported to live independently.

The scheme is a partnership between the Family Housing Association, Preseli Peaks GP practice, Hywel Dda University Health Board and Pembrokeshire Council.