The fight for survival 1977 - 1998

In the early 1970s, a new Teaching Hospital was commissioned in at the Heath in Cardiff.  This led South Glamorgan Area Health Authority to undertake a review of the condition of all the city’s hospitals, with a view to achieving economies through rationalisation.  The review exposed serious faults in the fabric of the buildings and engineering services at Rhydlafar.  The heating system alone would cost £800,000 to repair. 
Protesters in central Cardiff - March 1982
(Reproduced by kind permission of Don Llewellyn)
 Anticipating that the Authority's response would be to propose the closure of the hospital, a Save Rhydlafar campaign committee was established.  It attracted huge support not only from the staff and patients, but also from local communities, health councils, local authorities, the Royal College of Nursing, and the trade union movement.  Under Sue Goodall’s chairmanship, the committee challenged information allegedly being released by the Health Authority - particularly as to the condition of the hospital buildings.  And public demonstations were organised - culminating in a march in Cardiff on 13 September 1977, when a petition containing 180,000 signatures was handed in to the Welsh Office. 
Subsequently, the Health Authority announced their decision to keep Rhydlafar open for another 15 to 20 years, and to undertake the necessary repair works. 

However, there was more uncertainty when, after a further funding review, the Authority announced that it had decided in principle to close the hospital.  Public consultation followed, during which the campaign committee remained alert and, once again, received great public support.  And their efforts were rewarded when, on 29 November 1982, the Secretary of State for Wales, Nicholas Edwards, announced his decision to retain the Prince of Wales, Rhydlafar. 

By the end of the 1980s, Rhydlafar Hospital was, once again, under threat of closure.  Yet again, the campaign committee was re-established but, this time, even the most optimistic recognized that it was the beginning of the end.  During the next few years, services were gradually run down and the hospital closed in early 1998 with the remaining orthopaedic services transferring to Penarth's Llandough Hospital. 

Hospital buildings shortly before demolition
(Reproduced by kind permission of Don Llewellyn)
           


This page is based on "The Prince of Wales, Rhydlafar" by Don Llewellyn, published in "The Garth Domain" series by Pentyrch and District Local History Society.