HEALTH chiefs have dismissed rumours that a Bronglais Hospital ward is to be closed.

Claims had been made that staff members have been told that Rhiannon Ward is on the verge of closure.

Hywel Dda Health Board denied the claims, but has admitted it is considering whether changes would help make the ward more efficient over the winter period.

Joe Teape, the health board’s director of operations and deputy chief executive, said the board was reviewing if changes in how Rhiannon Ward, as well as Ceredig Ward, could help ensure the hospital was better placed to deal with additional winter pressures.

In previous years, scheduled surgery has had to be cancelled because of an increase in demand during the winter period.

Mr Teape said: “There are currently no plans to close any ward at Bronglais Hospital. We regularly review our capacity across all our hospital sites in preparation for winter to ensure we have the correct mix of scheduled and unscheduled care capacity, to maintain safe staffing levels and to ensure we have robust winter plans in place across all our sites. Specifically in relation to Bronglais Hospital we regularly have medical patients cared for on Ceredig and Rhiannon wards and we are looking to see if there is a better way of organising these surgical wards for the winter period.”

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