ELDERLY patients from Cardiff Royal Infirmary have been transferred to University Hospital Llandough as part of improvements to older person’s services in the region.

The move, which will also see services transferred to St David's Hospital, comes after the closure of the old West Wing building at the Cardiff Royal Infirmary.

The changes mean care is being provided in a more modern environment close to important support services such as diagnostic, laboratory medicine and same day pharmacy dispensing.

Delyth Jones, Directorate Manager for Clinical Gerontology at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said: “We can now continue to deliver high quality care within improved environments as well as better access to the supporting services such as diagnostics and improved medical cover on the UHL site.

“Overall, services are less isolated than they were in West Wing. Patients will receive the same expert support, regardless of where they access our care.

“By no longer providing our services from older, isolated locations, we will be delivering an improved patient experience when in hospital, and by co-locating our services we will have more flexible and robust clinical infrastructure in place.”

The changes were part of a review of gerontology services by the health board earlier this year. The plans were approved by the Cardiff and Vale Community Health Council.

Services previously provided at West Wing included the Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Unit for patients following falls resulting in fractures, the Elizabeth Ward for comprehensive geriatric assessment and rehabilitation of particularly frail patients and the Medical Rehabilitation Unit for assessment and rehabilitation following an acute medical episode.

The Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Unit was transferred to West 4 at the University Hospital Llandough. The Elizabeth Ward was transferred to St David’s Hospital on September 22, offering a more modern environment for both patients and staff, with two separate day rooms, ensuite facilities in the four-bed units and a landscaped courtyard.

The Medical Rehabilitation Unit moved to Ward East 7 at the University Hospital Llandough. Here, staff and patients have access to diagnostics that were unavailable at West Wing, including laboratory medicine, same day pharmacy dispensing, a wider range of radiology services, an on-site canteen for staff and a garden.

Plans for West Wing site will now be considered by the health board.