Work is nearing completion on a new surgery unit at one of Carmarthenshire’s hospitals.

The day surgery unit at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli has been delivered by Hywel Dda University Health Board following £20m of Welsh government funding.

It is hoped that the unit “will help reduce surgical waiting lists so people can be seen more quickly across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.”

Welsh government minister for health and social services, Eluned Morgan, visited the unit, which is expected to welcome patients in September.

She said: “Investing in new facilities such as the day surgery unit at Prince Philip Hospital is a vital part of our ambitious strategy to transform planned care in Wales.

“This new unit will help to see thousands of people in need of surgical treatment in the Hywel Dda health board area, as well as those from neighbouring health boards, and will bring more resilience and capacity for NHS Wales to care for people when they need it.”

The unit, includes two theatres, designed specifically to reduce risk of infection by generating a continuous flow of bacteria free air, as well as preparation rooms, anaesthetic rooms, changing facilities and a recovery area.

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Ultimately the theatres will have capacity to run six days of the week and will cover specialties including orthopaedics, general surgery, urology and vascular surgery, although this work will be phased.

Consultant surgeon and clinical director for scheduled care Ken Harries said: "We are looking ultimately for around four to five thousand patients to receive procedures in this unit annually.

“We are ambitious on behalf of our communities and are extending our theatre sessions and days to maximise efficiency and see patients, some of whom have had to sometimes wait significant amounts of time.

“An added advantage this unit will give us is that it is stand alone, which protects it from impacts within the main hospital wider activity, this will be of huge benefit to patients coming into the unit and for our staff also.”

Further updates on when the unit will be open, and direct communication with patients, will be shared in due course.