Anwyl Construction’s newly-built health and wellbeing centre in Blaenau Ffestiniog has been officially opened by Welsh Government Health Secretary Vaughan Gething.

The £3.9 million Canolfan Goffa Ffestiniog has been built for the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to provide a focal point to access health, social care, third sector and wellbeing services in the area and also support the Welsh Government’s vision for providing care in the community and closer to people’s homes.

Award-winning Ewloe-based Anwyl have provided facilities for over 35 services to be delivered from the new health and wellbeing centre which will host a dementia day service, new consultant palliative, heart failure, oxygen assessment and audiology clinics and a much strengthened learning disabilities service, as well as a range of third sector services including Job Centre Plus and Citizens’ Advice.

Mr Gething was provided with a tour of the building during his visit and met with staff at the former Meddygon y Blaenau surgery, who have moved into the centre, which has provided them with more space and a more spacious area for patients.

The Health Secretary also met with the Learning Disability and Palliative Care teams to find out the benefits their service will bring to the community.

Mr Gething said: “Canolfan Goffa Ffestiniog will be crucial to the future health and well-being of the local population of Blaenau Ffestiniog and I was delighted to be at the official opening.

“This is an important model for primary and community services that we could potentially look to replicate at other facilities in NHS Wales.”

Anwyl Construction’s Commercial Manager, Simon Rose, said: “We are delighted to have been involved with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on a very significant development for Blaenau Ffestiniog.

“The new Health and Wellbeing Centre will not only provide high quality facilities for the area but on a major project like this we always try to use local contractors and supply chains to ensure important employment and investment in the area’s economy.

“It also demonstrates that we have the construction skills and experience here in North Wales to carry out major projects like this.”

Ffion Johnstone, Area Director West for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “The centre will provide a single point of access to primary care and an extensive range of community health, social care, third sector and well-being services.

“We would like to thank our partners for their support throughout the development and to everyone who attended the official opening.”

For more information on the Anwyl Group go to http://www.anwylgroup.co.uk