Image Source: Google Earth (taken September 2025)
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As many of you are aware, over the last two years, Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board has been considering options for a new healthcare centre in the Llynfi Valley.
The proposed new centre – subject to detailed planning and funding – would replace Maesteg Community Hospital.
I haven’t covered it in detail to date, as information has been sketchy. There’s now enough official information out there that can be summarised ahead of any future announcements.
A protest was held outside the hospital on Saturday 24th January, with further protests and public meetings likely.
One thing to note is the infighting amongst and between different groups of campaigners.
It’s inevitable that once senior local political figures or (prospective) candidates for office get involved in things like this, they’ll be accused of electioneering or attaching themselves to campaigns to boost their profiles.
Certain personalities like to “own” campaigns and don’t like sharing the limelight either; I think we’ve all seen that happen before.
My advice would be to focus on what the health board says on this for the time being; they’ll be the ones drafting the business case and plans.
Politicians and prospective politicians can help, but ultimately even if it looks and feels like a decision has already been made the only opinion that matters is yours: don’t let anyone else speak for you or make your mind up for you.
What happened to refurbishment plans?
The health board’s original plans (dating back to 2021-22) were to refurbish the existing hospital and turn it into a community hub. This would’ve brought some health, social care and council services together under one roof. At the time, rumours that the hospital was going to close were dismissed.
As recently as September 2024, this was still the aim, and the health board were working on a business case and surveys for refurbishment.
However, by May 2025, surveys identified that more than £6 million would be needed to bring the existing hospital up to scratch, which was more than the available budget.
So the proposal changed from a full refurbishment of the existing hospital to building a completely new healthcare centre. A new centre would cost more, but it would be subject to a separate business case and would be funded from a different pot of money.
Where would a new healthcare centre be built and how much would it cost?
The health board haven’t said precisely where (yet). All they’ve said is that it could be built somewhere at or near the Ewenny Road regeneration site (former Cosi/Revlon factory).
The quoted cost of the project is in the £30 million range, but the exact cost will depend on the full plans and a business case. It’s too early to be certain, and nobody can make any promises one way or another.
Redeveloping the existing hospital site is also being considered as an option, but this would cost far more than a completely new build (the estimated figure being up to £50 million).
The health board expect that the first business case (of two) won’t be ready until the third quarter of 2026 (June-August 2026), and a preferred location would be decided before March 2026.
What services are proposed at the new healthcare centre?
At a glance, most of the services currently provided at Maesteg Hospital would be kept or expanded. This includes:
- A minor injuries unit with X-ray facilities.
- GP surgeries (at the very least Bron-y-Garn, which is based at the existing hospital).
- An expanded outpatients department (though it’s not clear what outpatient services would be provided yet).
- Community Mental Health Services.
- Space for health services provided by local and national charities.
What services would be lost due to the proposal?
There are no plans for in-patient beds – and this is perhaps the most controversial bit of the proposal.
Maesteg Hospital “temporarily” lost in-patient beds (Llynfi Ward) around the time of the pandemic, and they haven’t returned. Additionally, similar in-patient spaces at the Princess of Wales Hospital (Ward 19) have since permanently moved to a community hospital in Treorchy.
The health board say it’s part of a wider move to provide more care at home.
It might be short-sighted given that “step down”/intermediate care is starting to be considered as a solution to so-called “bed blocking” (people who are medically fit to leave a hospital staying for too long because their care needs can’t be met at home or take to long to arrange). The health board believe that existing care homes may be better positioned to provide this sort of care, but there are no firm plans one way or another.
What would happen to the existing Maesteg Hospital site?
The health board say the hospital would remain open until a new healthcare centre is completed.
No decisions or proposals have been made for the current hospital (yet), though the health board itself admits that a sale of the site “is the likely outcome”.
The hospital isn’t a listed building, so theoretically the entire site could be cleared. However, the health board says they’ve started discussions with Bridgend Council over protecting the exterior of the original building.
The situation is similar, but not identical, to what happened to Caerphilly Miner’s Hospital.
That used to be a community hospital, though it offered more services than Maesteg. Following its closure in 2011, its health services were largely transferred to Ysbyty Ystrad Mynach, and most of the land has been used for housing.
Part of the old main building has been retained and converted into a multi-use community centre run by a charitable company/trustees.
