Clwyd West AM Darren Millar has welcomed news that an £18m neonatal intensive care unit in Denbighshire has begun treating its first sick and premature babies.

The unit will centralise specialised care for very sick and premature babies in North Wales and came about following protests against initial plans to downgrade maternity and neonatal services which Darren took a leading role in.

Darren said:

“I am absolutely delighted that this unit is now operational and mothers and their babies are benefiting from this fantastic new facility on their doorstep.

“The people of North Wales have been waiting for far too long for this unit. Neonatal care across North Wales has been an area of concern for many years and until funding for this new centre was guaranteed, providing care for babies as young as 26 weeks, parents were faced with the prospect of very sick and premature babies being transported to Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral.

“Having a baby is a worrying time for any mother, whether it is their first or tenth. They need to know that they are in the safest hands. Having the ‘Sub-Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Centre’ in place will provide them with the assurances they need. Our babies deserve the highest standard of health care available and the very best start in life and this new unit will help to deliver just that.”