Major work on the new £172.7million Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr hospital has been completed.
Last week Welsh Assembly Health Minister Edwina Hart visited the site for a topping out ceremony signalling the last brick placed on top of the building.
All work on the hospital is due to finish autumn 2011.
During the visit the Minister announced that the new hospital will have a new MRI scanner – bringing the total in Gwent to three.
She said: “The new hospital will bring a range of services under one roof such as in-patient, day case, diagnostics, maternity services, and non-critical emergency care services.
“Until the new MRI scanner can be installed in the new hospital, I am keen that the Health Board is able to utilize it at other hospitals in Gwent to help it reduce waiting times.
“This means that patients can benefit from this investment sooner than if we were to wait for the new hospital to open.
“This significant Assembly Government-funded new hospital will greatly improve access to healthcare services for the people of Caerphilly and will mean that more services will be available locally, reducing the need to travel.
“The new hospital will also help reduce waiting times and pressure on neighbouring accident and emergency departments.”
David Jenkins, chair of the Aneurin Bevan Health Board, said: “This is a key step in the development of a new era of healthcare for people living in Caerphilly.
“Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr will provide the very latest health facilities and services on their doorstep.
“We are also delighted at the news today that a new MRI scanner has been funded for the new hospital and will be available early to be used as a mobile unit. This is a significant addition that will immediately benefit patients in the wider community.”
Caerphilly’s Labour AM Jeff Cuthbert said: “So many people have worked hard to bring this new hospital to fruition and now we can see the result.
“Enormous benefit will come to local people through this huge investment. I’m so delighted and honoured to be part of it.”
Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr, which will replace the historic Caerphilly Miners’ Hospital, is due to open in autumn 2011 and will be the biggest new hospital built in Wales for 30 years with 255 beds.
The £172million project will be one of the first hospitals in the country to have single en-suite rooms for every patient.
