The Cardiff and Vale University health board has announced that they will not be closing the Sam Davies ward at Barry hospital, for the time being.

The Barry community, political leaders and councillors have come together to protest against the changes for a number of months.

They stated that: ''Following an eight week public engagement process the Health Board has considered all of the feedback and would like to thank the public, staff and stakeholders for taking their time to let us know what they think of the proposals.

''The Health Board maintains that the new pathway is the right thing to do to improve care for frail older people in the Vale of Glamorgan.

''However, we have listened to the views and recognise that stakeholders would like to see more evidence to show how the pathway would work within the Vale of Glamorgan so they can see the benefits in action.

''The Board of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board will now consider a revised proposal at its meeting on 28 November 2019.

''In the meantime we will continue implementing the frailty models at University Hospital Llandough which includes Discharge to Assess and the Acute Frailty Assessment Service which aims to benefit patients by reducing the need for hospital admission and in turn reduces clinical deconditioning in patients.

''The beds at Sam Davies ward will remain open while we get the frailty models up and running.

''We will then review the evidence from the new Vale of Glamorgan model to inform the next steps of the pathway and consider opportunities to maximise the important role that Barry Hospital will play in the local community.

''As part of the engagement process, the Health Board received some helpful ideas on developing services in the future and will also be working closely with partner agencies to develop plans for Barry Hospital to become a health and wellbeing centre which will provide services that will benefit the whole community of Barry.

''We will also continue with work on developing the health, wellbeing and rehabilitation services at University Hospital Llandough as part of the broader Clinical Services Plan in order to continue to deliver our strategy: "Shaping our Future Wellbeing" continuing to put "Wyn" our representative patient at the heart of everything we do.''

Jane Hutt AM, released a statement on her social media. She said: ''Just heard that the Sam Davies Ward will remain open. Thank you to everyone involved in the campaign, staff, relatives, carers and Unison.''

Alun Cairns, the former MP for the Vale of Glamorgan, stated: ''Sam Davies Ward Saved - Following the community's campaign, I am delighted that proposals to close the Sam Davies Ward at Barry Hospital have been overturned.

''Congratulations to everyone who played a part, this is a significant victory for the NHS in Barry. Thank you.''

An update to the proposal will be posted following discussion with our Board at a meeting to be held on Thursday 28 November 2019; at the Memo Arts Centre, Gladstone Road, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, CF62 8N