New ambulance station for Cwmbran unveiled
THE Welsh Ambulance Service has unveiled a new station in Cwmbran.
Beacon House, on Llantarnam Business Park, is the new home of the Trust’s Grange University Hospital (GUH) Transfer Service, designed to provide inter-hospital transfers between GUH and the Royal Gwent, Nevill Hall Hospital and Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr.
The 12,000ft2 facility is also the new base for corporate colleagues who have relocated from nearby Vantage Point House in Cwmbran.
The building boasts a training, study and ICT space, vehicle charging and wash down areas, kitchen facilities and locker rooms.
Richard Hall, Operations Manager for the GUH Transfer Service, said: “Until recently, our 80-strong team were working from an old recreation hall at the former Llanfrechfa Grange Hospital which had been made available temporarily by the health board.
“To have a new, permanent base within two miles of the hospital is very exciting, and means we’re able to continue to provide the 24-hour GUH Transfer Service, whilst also providing excellent facilities to support the welfare of our staff.”
The opening of Beacon House is part of the continued modernisation of the Trust’s estate, which last month saw the unveiling of a new station in Cardiff for crews previously based in Blackweir and a new facility in Aberaeron to replace the former Newquay station.
Chris Turley, the Trust’s Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Resources, said: “I am very proud of what the team has been able to deliver for our dedicated GUH Transfer Service and for our corporate staff.
“Beacon House with its spacious meeting rooms and agile working areas is a modern, fit-for-purpose facility that our staff deserve.
“We continue to be innovative in the use of our estate, and this facility demonstrates a flexible and responsive space, shared across both operational and corporate teams, which also furthers our contribution to the decarbonisation agenda through the use of technology such as solar panels and battery storage.
“It’s a facility our teams can be proud to work from, and I am grateful to all of our WAST team who have supported the development.
Editor’s Notes
For more information, please call Communications Officer Beth Eales on 07870 383209 or email Beth.Eales@wales.nhs.uk