Ceredigion's Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams has called on the Hywel Dda NHS Trust to give additional support for the Ty Geraint Palliative Care Centre in Aberystwyth's Bronglais Hospital.

The Unit, which opened two years ago in memory of the late Liberal MP Geraint Howells, was set-up with lottery funding support. However, funding for salaries ended last September and the Hywel Dda NHS Trust then agreed to support the unit for the remainder of this financial year. Funding from this April onwards however has yet to be confirmed.

Mark Williams MP has written to the Chief Executive of the Hywel Dda NHS Trust Martin Turner to outline his concerns and to call on the Trust to ensure that funding for Ty Geraint continues. Mark Williams MP said, "I was greatly concerned when I heard that future funding for Ty Geraint is in doubt with only 2 months to go before the end of this financial year. Ty Geraint has offered fantastic support for patients throughout Ceredigion since it opened 2 years ago and it would be a severe loss to Bronglais Hospital if this wonderful resource couldn't continue.

"The Hywel Dda NHS Trust has supported Ty Geraint in recent months and I have written to the Trust's Chief Executive Martin Turner, asking that they continue with this financial assistance. To say that there is no evidence to substantiate the financial support ignores the great support that patients have received from the services provided. It also ignores the excellent recent news that the Ty Geraint Palliative care team have been shortlisted for the Prince's Foundation Integrated Health Awards. This demonstrates that Ty Geraint provides for patients' full care needs, including their lifestyle and emotional well-being.

"Ty Geraint has only been up-and-running for a few years and it would be an awful loss if continued funding could not be secured. The Hywel Dda NHS Trust must ensure that Ty Geraint is given the financial support it deserves".