Plaid Cymru urges Welsh Government to fund Fishguard Integrated Care Centre
Plaid Cymru Senedd members press for a new health hub in Fishguard, citing rural equity and pending funding from the Welsh Government.
Plaid Cymru Senedd members have renewed their call for an Integrated Care Centre in Fishguard, arguing the project is essential for north Pembrokeshire’s rural health needs.
Anna Nicholl MS, the party’s Senedd representative for Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, raised the issue during a recent Questions to the First Minister session.
She highlighted the success of similar hubs in Cardigan and Aberaeron, pointing to their role in delivering coordinated services to dispersed communities.
The Fishguard centre has featured in Hywel Dda University Health Board’s strategic plans since 2022, yet progress stalls without a confirmed funding package from the Welsh Government.
Proposed facilities would co‑locate GP services with community provisions such as area nursing, therapies and mental‑health support, aiming to reduce travel times for patients.
In response, First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth stressed the parity of rural and urban health provision.
“Many of us represent rural areas here, and someone’s health in a rural part of Wales is just as important as someone in an urban part of Wales.” We want to ensure that integrated care is delivered closer to home, with prevention in particular at its core, to support earlier diagnosis, reduce admissions and delays in discharge.
The minister added that discussions were ongoing with health officials and local authorities, but he stopped short of committing a funding timetable.
Anna Nicholl welcomed the First Minister’s acknowledgement but warned that rhetoric alone would not bring the centre to fruition.
“I welcome the First Minister’s recognition of the importance of this project and the ongoing discussions between officials, the Health Board and Pembrokeshire County Council.” Kerry Ferguson MS and I will continue to press both the Welsh Government and Hywel Dda University Health Board to secure the funding needed to make this centre a reality.
We will be meeting with key stakeholders, monitoring progress closely and making sure the voices of local people remain at the heart of the process. The people of north Pembrokeshire have waited long enough for this investment.
Ferguson, the Plaid Cymru Senedd member for Ceredigion Penfro, has joined Nicholl in lobbying for the project, citing the strain on existing services in the region.
Local residents have long complained about the distance to the nearest GP surgeries, often requiring trips of over 20 miles to Cardigan or Haverfordwest.
Health board officials acknowledge that a single, purpose‑built hub could streamline referrals and improve multidisciplinary collaboration.
They also note that integrated care models have demonstrated reductions in hospital admissions in comparable rural settings.
Nevertheless, the Welsh Government’s current budget constraints have left the Fishguard proposal in a holding pattern.
Opposition parties have questioned whether the funding gap reflects a broader neglect of rural health infrastructure.
Welsh health policy analysts suggest that securing capital investment will depend on the government’s upcoming spending review and the prioritisation of rural health outcomes.
In the meantime, community groups have organised petitions and public meetings to keep pressure on decision‑makers.
One such gathering in Fishguard last month saw over 150 locals voice support for the centre, citing the potential for job creation and improved access to mental‑health services.
Hywel Dda University Health Board has indicated that a detailed business case is being prepared, pending confirmation of funding streams.
If approved, the centre could be operational within three to five years, aligning with the board’s broader vision for integrated services across west Wales.
Plaid Cymru’s push underscores a growing political focus on rural health equity ahead of the next Senedd elections.
Stakeholders agree that the Fishguard Integrated Care Centre remains a litmus test for the Welsh Government’s commitment to delivering health services “closer to home” for remote communities.