Rookwood Hospital, site of the only Spinal Cord Injury Centre in Wales, is set to close by the end of March 2011. It is proposed that the Spinal Cord Injury Centre will then be moved to nearby Llandough Hospital, a University hospital in Cardiff.

Due to the recent, and sudden, announcement of the closure of Rookwood the details of the move are still being discussed. However, the new site will seemingly have some benefits for SCI patients as they will have access to medical cover 24 hours a day, seven days a week – something which was not available at the rehab only Rookwood site. This medical cover would also mean that the SCI Centre would be able to admit ventilated patients for the first time.

However, with Llandough Hospital located at the top of an incredibly steep hill, this is likely to have repercussions for patients going through rehabilitation who may not be allowed to leave the hospital site of their own accord, unless in a vehicle.

SIA has recently submitted a paper to Welsh Assembly members and MPs on a proposed National Spinal Cord Injury Service for Wales. Hopefully the recent news from Rookwood will raise further interest in this paper from Welsh politicians.