Children, young people and their families in Pembrokeshire will benefit from a new dedicated Puffin paediatric facility at Withybush Hospital. Expected to open next spring, the facility has been made possible following £750,000 capital investment by Hywel Dda University Health Board.
The new facility, located within the main hospital building, will enhance the provision of outpatient paediatric services in a new welcoming environment designed around the needs of children and families.
The space will include six consultation rooms, dedicated outpatient facilities and will support a Rapid Access Clinic. This clinic will enable children and young people to be seen by a paediatric clinician within 72 hours following referral from a GP or other healthcare professional. This clinic is not an emergency care service.
It will also feature improved family facilities, including a dedicated changing space with a hoist and changing bed, a waiting area with toys and activities, and a separate quieter space for those who may need a calmer environment.
The much-loved Puffin identity will continue throughout the new facility, with artwork and decoration helping to create a welcoming and reassuring setting for young patients. Detailed designs for the new space have now been completed. Building work is expected to get underway after a contractor has been appointed through the formal tender process.
This development forms part of the paediatric service model agreed by the Health Board following public consultation in 2023 and subsequent Board decisions in 2024, and represents an investment in children’s services in Pembrokeshire.
Alongside the development of the new Puffin facility, the Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) service is relocating on Monday 14 September to refurbished accommodation within Withybush Hospital. SDEC enables patients (aged over 18) with common medical conditions to be assessed, diagnosed and treated on the same day. This should allow the patient to avoid unnecessary hospital admission. SDEC is not a walk-in service. Patients are referred to SDEC by their GP, Paramedics (Welsh Ambulance Service), through the Emergency Department (A&E), or via another route such as an outpatient clinic. This move allows the former SDEC space to be transformed into the dedicated children’s facility, supporting improved environments for both services.
Nick Williams-Davies the General Manager, Children, Women and Family Health for Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “We know this is a development that many families, staff and members of the community have been keen to see progress following the public consultation. We appreciate the patience shown while we have worked through the detailed planning, design and funding processes.
“The Puffin facility has been designed around children’s needs. The larger area and enhanced facilities will allow our staff to continue delivering high-quality care for patients and their families”
Children aged over 12 months with a minor injury should continue to attend the Minor Injury Unit (MIU) at Withybush Hospital. The MIU is nurse-led and treats injuries that are not life-threatening, including minor fractures, sprains, cuts, minor burns, bites and stings.
Children who are seriously unwell or need emergency care should continue to attend Glangwili Hospital, where emergency paediatric care continues to be provided.
Further updates will be shared as the project progresses.
