A pioneering health care project in Wales has got under way this week. A sod-cutting ceremony on Wednesday heralded the building of an exciting new initiative to provide NHS hospital beds at Park House Court in Tenby. The state-of-the-art building will provide 25 additional care beds in Pembrokeshire, 10 of which on the ground floor section will be used exclusively for NHS hospital patients. And it was fitting that chairman of the Tenby Cottage Hospital League of Friends, Mrs. Pat Wright, who has been a longstanding campaigner for the retention of hospital services, performed the duty. The new Tenby Cottage Hospital Park House Court Ward will complete the re-provision of services that have previously been provided at the old cottage hospital. The plans for the re-provision of services have taken many years to come to fruition. Outpatient services, minor injury unit, x-ray, dental services, podiatry and day care have already been re- provided in the new hospital facility at Butts Field, which was opened earlier this year. The provision of these 10 inpatient beds at Park House Court will now complete the re-provision of all services. The NHS beds at Park House Court will be accessed exactly like any other community hospital beds and will provide modern up-to-date facilities for patients who require intermediate care and palliative care. These beds will be funded by Pembrokeshire Local Health Board in a separate NHS ward. Patients in these beds will be cared for by Park House Court nurses who will work closely with Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust. The beds will be overseen by an NHS nurse and rehabilitation will be provided to patients in these beds from the rehabilitation team based at the hospital at Butts Field. Jenny Bowen, nurse director from the Local Health Board, said: "NHS services are being modernised throughout Wales with the intention of bringing services nearer to local people. "This exciting initiative to provide NHS hospital beds in the private sector is a first in Wales. "I have worked closely with Phillip Parker and the team from Park House Court over the past two years to bring this scheme to fruition. "Patients have always received excellent care at the existing old Tenby Cottage Hospital and I am sure that patients who come to Park House Court will receive high quality care and, most importantly, a very warm welcome." F. J. Chalcroft Construction Ltd. won the contract for the building of the new facility, while GKV Developments were instrumental in the development and planning processes, with help from Willis and Hole and Linda Taylor and Dave Lawrence, of Pembrokeshire County Council's planning department. "After lengthy discussions and consultations, we are delighted that the new development at Park House Court is now under way," said senior director, Phillip Parker. "This will provide the inpatient beds for the Tenby Cottage Hospital ward at Park House Court. "This new ward will provide 10 beds for the community. The beds will be used by patients coming out of Withybush Hospital for rehabilitation before going home, thus allowing the beds in Withybush Hospital to be available for acute admissions," explained Mr. Parker. "This collaboration between the NHS and the independent sector is a first for Wales. The patients will remain hospital NHS patients at all times, but with the benefits of private single en suite rooms, telephone points, extensive lounge facilities and food provided by Park House Court's very own chef! "The staff will be provided by Park House Court, who over the 10 years the nursing home has been open, have been developed into a highly qualified and dedicated team of nurses and carers." "This is a dream come true for us," Peter Parker added. "I just wish our mother and father, Tom and Bunny, were here to see the project getting underpay; they would be so proud."