From Bocam Park to Bennett Street; a new home for Ambulance Care in Bridgend

THE Welsh Ambulance Service has acquired a new permanent residence for Bridgend’s Ambulance Care team.

Ambulance Care, which is an umbrella term for our non-Emergency patient care services, has moved out of its temporary residence in Bocam Park to a new location on Bennett Street after a business case to fund it was approved in July and a unit was obtained on a ten-year lease.

More than £440,000 was assigned for the acquisition and significant refurbishment of the Bennett Street site prior to the Trust’s occupation.

The improvement works included the external and internal space to introduce a garage, crew room and locker room, with an aim to develop appropriate facilities that is suitable for the delivery of a modern, effective, and efficient operating model.

This will help to enable the Trust to continue to provide caring and responsive services that meet the needs of the local population.

Joanne Williams, the Trust’s Head of Capital Development, said: “We are very grateful to our partners in Bridgend County Council and South Wales Police for their support in temporarily providing accommodation for our staff during the pandemic.

“We are pleased that we have been able to put in place a long-term facility to ensure stability for our staff and to avoid any displacement within the Bridgend area.

“The team has worked quickly, with the support of our contractors, to develop a site which provides staff with an environment which supports them to deliver the best care possible.

“The station provides good staff welfare facilities, and we have been able to incorporate some elements such as solar panels and battery storage which lower our carbon emissions from the site and improve our efficiencies.”

Joanne ReesThomas, Service Manager for Ambulance Care, said: “We’re thrilled that our Bridgend Ambulance Care team have been provided an environment which supports them to deliver the best care possible, that maximises the opportunities to collaborate with partners, and provides adequate welfare facilities for the team.

“After suffering some displacement during the pandemic, it’s fantastic that they now have somewhere that is built for purpose and to call their own.”

Editor’s notes:

Staff relocated to the new premises on 30 November 2022. For more information, please call Communications Specialist Emily Baker on 07811 752110 or email Emily.Baker1@wales.nhs.uk