THE Welsh Government has approved plans for two new theatres at a major Cardiff hospital.

The University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff is proposed to have two new theatres, including a dedicated major trauma theatre.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is looking for up to £33.54 million for the new hybrid – surgical theatre with radiology equipment - and major trauma theatres and recovery areas. They will be in a specialist new-build facility at the hospital.

Health minister Eluned Morgan approved the outline business case to develop theatre capacity, to allow on surgeons to operate on people from across South and West Wales, with some of the most complex cases, including serious injuries.

There will now be a full business case submitted by the health board. If this passes further scrutiny and is agreed, it is expected the project could be completed by December 2023.

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Ms Morgan said: “These two specialised theatre spaces will prevent patients from having to be moved between operating theatre and the imaging department, improving patient experience and safety and making surgery more efficient.

“This additional capacity to support regional vascular and major trauma services will release main theatre capacity at the hospital to help reduce the backlog of surgical cases, which has built up during the pandemic.”

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s interim chief executive, Professor Stuart Walker, said: “We welcome this additional funding which will enable us to increase our facilities as a major trauma centre so we can treat and care for the complex and emergency cases which come to us from across South and West Wales.

“As a major trauma centre, access to appropriate care and surgical interventions needs to be undertaken quickly, to give a better outcome for people. This additional facility will continue to enable our teams to care for people in a timely manner and ensure access to diagnostics in one area.”