Welsh Labour has launched its Senedd election campaign with a commitment to invest £4 billion in building the Hospitals of the Future across Wales, including the redevelopment of Wrexham Maelor Hospital, alongside plans to transform mental health support and continue delivering major healthcare investment already underway in North Wales communities.

Addressing party members and candidates at the campaign launch in Newport, Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister Eluned Morgan outlined five key pledges focused on tackling the cost of living, creating future jobs, protecting the NHS, safeguarding the environment and building a fairer Wales.

Central to the programme is a £4bn Hospitals for the Future Fund to modernise some of Wales’ oldest NHS estate, including redeveloping Wrexham Maelor Hospital, alongside new same-day mental health support designed to ensure people can access help quickly when they need it.

In her speech, she said:

“The NHS is not just a service. It’s a promise. And we need to renew that promise. Not with slogans, but with the biggest investment programme in our history. So, we are committing £4 billion to build the Hospitals of the Future

 "Because patients deserve hospitals fit for modern medicine, not more make-do and mend. Staff deserve a working environment that matches their skill and dedication. And Wales deserves an NHS built for the future, not held together by goodwill alone.

“But we know it’s not only about buildings. It’s about access, skilled staff, and dignity. So, we will transform mental health support. Same-day services that are easy to access will mean more people get the right help at the right time, exactly when they need it most.”

The open-access mental health model will build on services such as 111 press 2 and will be tested by all health boards in demonstrator sites, aiming to make Wales the first country in the world to offer same-day access mental health support nationwide.

Welsh Labour Member of the Senedd, Hannah Blythyn, welcomed the announcement, highlighting the importance of long-term investment in North Wales.

“This is a significant investment in the future of our NHS and a real vote of confidence in communities across North Wales. Redeveloping Wrexham Maelor Hospital will help ensure patients receive high-quality care in modern facilities, while giving hardworking NHS staff the environment they deserve to deliver the very best treatment.

“Alongside transforming mental health support and tackling the cost of living, these plans show what can be achieved when we focus on practical solutions that make a real difference to people’s everyday lives. Welsh Labour is choosing investment, fairness and long-term improvement for Wales.”

The campaign launch comes as significant NHS investment is already being delivered in the region, including a major £33 million redevelopment of the historic Royal Alexandra Hospital in Rhyl.

The new purpose-built facility will include a minor injuries unit capable of treating more than 20,000 people a year, expanded radiology services, four new dental suites and a 14-bed reablement unit bringing NHS and social care teams together to support patients returning home after treatment. The development forms phase one of a wider £60 million investment programme and is expected to be completed in 2027.

Following a recent visit to the hospital alongside the First Minister, Hannah Blythyn MS said:

“This is really welcome news for Rhyl and for communities across North Wales who have been waiting a long time to see this investment move forward. The pandemic and years of austerity placed huge pressures on our NHS and inevitably slowed progress, so it’s encouraging that we now have firm plans, significant funding secured, and a clear completion date in sight.

“I want to pay tribute to Ann Jones, whose determination and campaigns for the Royal Alexandra from the very beginning has helped make this possible.

“This new minor injuries unit, expanded diagnostics and reablement services will help people access treatment closer to home while easing pressure on our major hospitals.

“Welsh Labour isn’t just talking about improving healthcare in North Wales, we’re taking action, investing in modern facilities and delivering services that support people, families and communities when they need them most.”

First Minister Eluned Morgan added:

“This long-term investment in health services in Rhyl will cut the amount of time people wait in emergency department, increase the number of inpatients and result in people being able to return home faster after treatment in hospital.

“This investment is part of the Welsh Government’s action to transform healthcare in North Wales, modernising facilities and working smarter so people can be treated closer to home.”

Together, the new Hospitals for the Future programme and ongoing local investment demonstrate Welsh Labour’s commitment to modern NHS facilities, improved mental health access and delivering better healthcare closer to home for communities across North Wales.