JB Evans wants to talk facts when it comes to Cardigan integrated care centre

So it has been, and is in the case of the proposed Integrated Care Centre.

Two recent correspondents have come up with hardly original comments. Firstly the word “hospital” does not appear in its description, because it isn’t, so why repeat it? Secondly it is not a health centre. Yes, there will be a health centre within it – the Cardigan Health Centre will relocate as an integral part of the Care Centre, but only as an integral part.

Sainsbury's withdrawal from their site was as a direct result of basic drainage errors made by the contractors, making the plateau unstable. One has to wonder whether if the plateau had been constructed correctly, and had had time to settle, whether the supermarket would have continued with its building plans. For around this time they were reassessing and pulling in their horns.

They withdrew from building the proposed store at Haverfordwest and sold the land on. They also withdrew from the proposed store at Cross Hands, so perhaps the problems with the plateau were fortuitous for Sainsbury's in view of their reassessment and plans.

Both refer to our existing hospital building; by their own definition it is no longer a hospital and hasn’t been for some considerable time, as it has no beds. The word ‘hospital’ is a carry-over from its previous use. I wonder if when it was first converted to a hospital it was still referred to as the Priory?

As for refurbishing the existing building, facts should be considered. It is an ancient building with extensions being added fairly willy-nilly, and then further extensions added to them.

The fabric of the building has been deteriorating for many moons. It was poor when my wife worked as a nurse there some 20 years ago, so even with substantial maintenance - if there has been any - it has hardly improved.

The single lift at that time was in very poor shape; I don’t know if it was ever refurbished.

So it is being suggested that this rather shambolic set of buildings should be made up to modern requirements. I think not, as did the team which assessed all possibilities for a new medical centre for Cardigan.

Or perhaps those making this suggestion now were not aware of the comprehensive studies carried out.

The reason that beds were lost in this building were purely practical. It was concluded after tests that in the event of a fire patients could not safely be removed from the top floor, so the ward was closed.

More beds were lost when up-to-date regulations deemed that the existing beds were far too close together raising the possibility of patient cross infection. I believe it then became unviable to retain the existing beds, exacerbated by problems with staffing.

The statement that Assembly Members come here on holiday but don’t choose to live here because of our lack of a hospital does the writer no good at all – it’s really off the wall. As is the suggestion that Hywel Dda have chosen the path they have so that a future development of the existing building into flats would make it a profitable exercise. I’ve heard of conspiracy theories, but this takes the biscuit and is utter poppycock.

Just like everyone else I’d love the idea of beds in the new building but it has been decided that this would not be viable, presumably because of all the infrastructure requirements as well as additional costs.

Rather than continuing to bemoan what we are not going to get, it would be far better to welcome the new, modern facility and its positive effects on our local community.

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I recently had to go to Glangwili Hospital in a bit of a rush as there were indications that something was amiss with a long-term medical problem I have.

I was kept in overnight in A&E and its seems (touch wood) that all is well again.

The treatment I received was excellent and the staff were first class.

My thanks and appreciation to all.