Darren Millar has called for urgent intervention from the Welsh Government over plans for a new community hospital in Rhyl, warning that the proposed development does not go far enough to meet growing healthcare pressures in north Wales.

In a letter to newly appointed Health and Care Cabinet Secretary Mabon ap Gwynfor, the Clwyd MS said he supports investment in local healthcare and the redevelopment of the historic Royal Alexandra Hospital site, but believes the current scheme has been “significantly scaled back” from what was originally promised.

Planning permission for the development was granted last December, with the project expected to provide a modern healthcare hub for north Denbighshire. However, Mr Millar says the reduction in inpatient beds from an originally proposed 30 to just 14 risks undermining the hospital’s ability to ease pressure on nearby acute services.

In his letter, he urged the Cabinet Secretary “to use your powers to intervene, urgently review the scale of the project, and provide sufficient resources to ramp up the number of inpatient beds to at least those previously promised”.

The proposed redevelopment of the former Royal Alexandra Hospital site has been discussed for more than a decade and has long been viewed as a key part of efforts to improve healthcare provision in coastal north Wales.

When plans were first announced in 2013, the vision included 30 inpatient beds alongside rehabilitation, step-down and community healthcare services designed to reduce admissions to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s acute hospitals.

Mr Millar argued that pressures at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd are now even greater than when the original plans were developed, with high demand, delayed discharges and emergency department pressures regularly making headlines across the region.

He said the current situation at Glan Clwyd has featured in reports from HM Coroners and warned that pressure on services is “leading to unnecessary patient harm and excess deaths in North Wales”.

“I am concerned that a community hospital with such a limited number of beds risks being unable to fulfil its intended role,” he wrote.

“Rather than easing pressure on Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, there is a real danger that insufficient capacity will limit its effectiveness and add further pressure to the staffing issues we are already experiencing.”

The Royal Alexandra Hospital itself has a long history in Rhyl, originally opening in the 19th century before inpatient services were gradually reduced over the years. Parts of the site have remained operational for community-based healthcare, while redevelopment proposals have been the subject of ongoing political debate and public consultation.

Mr Millar suggested that financial constraints rather than clinical demand are behind the reduced scale of the current plans.

“I understand that bed capacity is being limited by the finances available from the previous Welsh Government, not by a lack of need,” he said.

He added that he had already raised concerns directly with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and said he was willing to work collaboratively with both the Welsh Government and health officials to improve the project.

After sending the letter on Friday, Mr Millar said securing the right level of investment now was crucial for the future of healthcare services in the area.

“Delivering a facility which falls short of what is needed would be a missed opportunity which could lead to greater challenges in the years ahead,” he said.