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Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr’s new breast cancer care centre is to be funded with £11 million over the next three years, the Welsh Government has announced.

Moves to centralise breast care services from across Aneurin Bevan University Health Board at Ystrad Mynach were first mooted and agreed in 2016.

At the time, it was believed the centre would be up and running by 2018. According to ABUHB, the centre will now be open by February 2023.

The Welsh Government told Caerphilly Observer the delay was down to figuring out where the centre could be built on the hospital site.

Planning permission for the centre was granted in September 2020 and fundraising efforts have been ongoing to help raise £200,000 for additional services and equipment.

So far the Turn ABUHB Pink campaign has raised £215,000.

Clinical teams from the Nevill Hall and Royal Gwent Hospitals will move to Ystrad Fawr to provide outpatient care, diagnostic investigations and surgery for breast cancer.

Caerphilly Senedd Member Hefin David, who pushed for Ystrad Fawr to be home to the new centre when it was first announced in 2016, said the funding was “excellent news”.

He said: “Specialist staff moving to the centre will support over 5,000 local women, and a small number of men who the team see each year.

“Having a central location in Ystrad Mynach for breast cancer cases will mean a more streamlined service and faster treatments, which we know is crucial in this area of healthcare.”

Announcing the funding, Health Minister Eluned Morgan said: “These ambitious plans will mean patients in Gwent will have better access to high quality care and more people affected by breast cancer can be managed on a day case basis and thereby avoid a hospital admission.

“As we mark World Cancer Day (Friday, February 4), this is an opportunity to reflect on the significant impact cancer has on our society and highlight important investments that we are making to support better patient care. We will continue to give cancer services the focus they deserve as we emerge from the pandemic.”

Glyn Jones, Interim Chief Executive of ABUHB, said: “We are very grateful to Welsh Government for funding this incredible new facility, which will represent another key milestone in our Clinical Futures strategy.

“With the new centre serving as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for breast services, our specialist clinicians will be centralised in a purpose-built facility, where they will provide expert care to patients with breast cancer in one place. We look forward to seeing the construction of the facility progress over the coming months.”