CARDIGAN’S brand new £24m Integrated Care Centre will open its doors to the public for the first time on Monday, December 9.

The opening of the centre follows hot on the heels of the launch of a similar initiative in Aberaeron and represents a decisive change of direction in the way that Hywel Dda health board deliver health and social care services in a largely rural landscape.

As well as providing a modern, fit-for-purpose healthcare service including a GP practice, dental service and pharmacy, the new centre – which has been developed with £23.8m of Welsh Government funding – will host a range of other clinics and services delivered by Hywel Dda, the third sector, local authority and partner organisations.

These include:

• A nurse-led minor injuries walk-in service with telemedicine links to the emergency department

• Radiology and diagnostics

• Phlebotomy service

• Outpatient suite with consulting rooms and clinical treatment facilities for pre-assessment and outpatient consultations by visiting clinicians and social workers

• Disease-specific services for heart failure, motor neurone disease clinics, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease services

• Enhanced telemedicine equipment in clinical areas, providing remote access to specialists from across the professions

• Rehabilitation services, providing opportunities for intensive and slow stream rehabilitation to restore function and improve independence, supported by therapists, nurses and social care staff within the Community Resource Team

• Mental health and learning disabilities services

• A base for the local community resource team in south Ceredigion, including the acute response and district nursing teams

Steve Moore, chief executive of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “This is an ambitious step forward for our health board and one which has taken many years of planning. There have been challenges along the way and we’ve had to work very hard to make sure that we’ve got it right first time.

“In particular, the hard work and commitment from our staff, and the support of many stakeholders – particularly our local communities – has been a critical part of our journey, and it is with these groups in mind that we begin delivering on our ambition of providing safe, sustainable, integrated care for our local population.”

For a list of contact telephone numbers for services see below. Any services not listed can be contacted via the main CICC reception telephone number:

CICC Reception – 01239 801560; social services - 01239 801561; speech therapy - 01239 801561; health visitors - 01239 801563; PAEDS community OT -- 01239 801564; adult community OT - 01239 801565; adult community physio - 01239 801566; PAEDS community physio - 01239 801566; GP reception - 01239 612021; children’s community nurse - 01239 801569; oxygen nurse - 01239 801570; MSK physio (fixed/static number) - 01239 801571; podiatry - 01239 801572; district nurses -

01239 801573; X-ray - 01239 801574.

The Minor Injuries Unit service currently located at Cardigan Hospital will close all day on December 6 to allow staff to move into the new centre.

Anyone who requires medical care on that day is asked to phone their GP, pharmacist or NHS 111 to access out of hours/NHS Direct Wales services, or to attend their local A&E in an emergency.

From December 9, the opening hours of the unit will be 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and on Bank Holidays.

There will also be no sexual health clinic in Cardigan on December 5 due to the move. The clinic on December 12 will be held in the new centre between 1pm and 3.30pm.