Clwyd West Assembly Member Darren Millar has welcomed news that a decision on the business plan for a new £18m neonatal intensive care unit in Denbighshire will be made by the end of the year.
In July Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board approved the business plan for the unit at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan, with Dr Mark Walker from the health board stating it "underlines our commitment to the best quality services".
This week in the Children, Young People and Education Committee, the Cabinet Secretary for Health told Darren than a decision on the business plan would be made before the end of December.
Darren, who supported the thousands of people who protested against initial plans to downgrade maternity services at the hospital, said:
“It has been a long time coming, but I am pleased that progress on this important development is at last being made.
“The people of North Wales have waited for far too long for this unit and I only hope that once the decision on the business plan has been made, both the Health Board and the Welsh Government do everything they can to get the new this flagship centre up and running as soon as possible.
"Our babies deserve the highest standard of health care available and the very best start in life, the new unit will help to deliver just that.”
The Sub Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Centre Unit will provide care for premature babies as young 26 weeks.
Picture Caption: Clwyd West AM Darren Millar at last year’s protest rally to support the campaign to retain doctor-led maternity services at Glan Clwyd Hospital, with Campaign Leader Marsha Davies.