Y Bwthyn Macmillan Specialist Care Unit
New Build Unit on the Royal Glamorgan Hospital campus
Location
Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Talbot Green
Completed
2020
Role
Architect
Project Overview
Originally established in 1994 on the historic site of the former Pontypridd Cottage Hospital, the Y Bwthyn Specialist Palliative Care Unit has long provided essential support to patients and families across the Rhondda and Taff Ely communities. Alongside its inpatient services, the unit also accommodates the home care nursing team from Macmillan Cancer Support, enabling specialist palliative care to be delivered both within the unit and directly in patients’ homes.
The project was driven by the need to create a contemporary care environment that could better support the evolving requirements of specialist palliative care. The original facility, while home to an exceptional clinical team, had become increasingly limited by its ageing fabric and its physical separation from acute hospital services.
Relocating the unit to the campus of the Royal Glamorgan Hospital provided an opportunity to reimagine the setting for care—bringing patients closer to essential medical facilities while creating a calm, supportive environment centred on dignity, comfort, and wellbeing.
The new purpose-built unit has been carefully planned to balance clinical functionality with a strong sense of warmth and domesticity. Eight private inpatient bedrooms provide quiet, personal spaces for patients and their families, while a dedicated Day Unit and therapy suites support a broader range of treatments and activities. Generous circulation spaces, improved accessibility, and integrated patient support areas allow staff to deliver care efficiently while maintaining a welcoming and non-clinical atmosphere.
Throughout the design, the emphasis has been on creating a setting that feels calm, light-filled, and reassuring—supporting both patients and staff while ensuring that specialist care can be delivered in an environment that is both practical and deeply compassionate.
Awards
Shortlisted – Architects Journal Awards 2021 – Health and Wellbeing Category
Shortlisted – RICS Social Impact Awards Wales 2020
What Our Clients Say
“KKE made the most of the location by putting the offices closest to the existing building leaving the Day Unit and Inpatient Unit to benefit from the best aspects with views.”over the trees to nearby hills.
CTUHB
“The new eight-bed unit means that people needing palliative care can now be cared for and get the tests and holistic treatments they need all in one place”.
Macmillan