Update on the closure of St David's Hospice beds at Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley, Holyhead.

10/10/2025

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is reassuring residents of Ynys Môn and Gwynedd that high quality palliative and end of life care will continue to be provided when St David’s Hospice beds at Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley in Holyhead temporarily close this month.

In July 2025 the hospice announced its intention to temporarily close its 4-bed inpatient unit on the island from October 2025, citing the impact of rising running costs and reduced income.

Although the Health Board has increased funding for the hospice sector, it has acknowledged the challenges it is facing.

The hospice beds provided a much-valued contribution to the provision of end of life and palliative care for residents of Ynys Môn and Gwynedd, supporting an average of seven patients per month.

The Health Board has ensured that its community-based and hospital-based services, which already provide the vast majority of palliative and end of life care locally, have the capacity to provide continuity of care for the relatively small predicted number of patients that would have been supported within the St David’s Hospice facility.

Carol Shillabeer, Chief Executive at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “Our priority has been to work with St David’s Hospice to ensure that individuals and their families can continue to access high-quality care, delivered in a setting of their choice.

“This includes the provision of district nursing teams, accessible 24 hour per day; specialist palliative care support, which is available seven days per week; and the Marie Curie night service.  

“Staff working within these teams have the appropriate training, competencies and experience to meet the needs of palliative care patients and those at the end stage of life, while additional and bespoke training will be provided as the need arises. We have also progressed fast track applications for staff currently working for St David’s Hospice in Holyhead who wish to join our nurse bank.

“Patients will continue to be offered a choice as to where their palliative or end of life care is delivered, whether that is at home, in hospital, or at the St David’s Hospice Llandudno site.

“St David’s Hospice has pledged to review the temporary closure in July 2026 and we are committed to continuing to work in partnership with them as we seek to deliver the very best care for patients and their families.”