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LLANELLI: Blood test services moving to Canolfan Pentre Awel on 1 June — with drop-in event next week for patients who want to know more

Llanelli patients needing blood tests will have a new home from 1 June, as Hywel Dda University Health Board confirms its phlebotomy service is moving to Canolfan Pentre Awel.

The service has been based at the Mass Vaccination Centre in Dafen since 2024, when it was moved there temporarily. The 1 June move to Pentre Awel represents its permanent new base.

The 2024 move to Dafen was deeply controversial. The Mass Vaccination Centre sits on an industrial estate with no public bus routes — meaning patients without a car had no way of getting there. The backlash was immediate, with the Health Board forced to introduce limited appointments at Prince Philip Hospital specifically for those who relied on public transport and couldn’t reach the Dafen site.

The service had originally been based at the Antioch Centre on Copperworks Road — a short walk from Llanelli train station and considerably more accessible by public transport than either the Dafen industrial estate or Pentre Awel. For many patients, the last two years have meant navigating a service that felt like it had been designed without them in mind.

Patients who want to find out more can attend a drop-in event at Canolfan Pentre Awel on Wednesday 20 May, running from 2pm to 6pm — giving them the chance to see the new facility ahead of the move.

Dylan Jones, Head of Pathology Services at Hywel Dda, said the new facility offered a much-improved environment for patients.

“This new facility offers a bright, accessible environment with excellent transport routes and parking, which we know is important to our patients,” he said. “Working alongside colleagues in Research and Innovation, as well as other clinical teams, will also provide improved working conditions for staff and a more seamless experience for patients.”

He added that the move represented a long-term investment in services for the Llanelli community.

Sara Quarrie, Service Director for Allied Health Professions and Health Sciences at Hywel Dda, said the team had worked hard to ensure the move delivered real benefits for both patients and staff.

“We know how important it is for local people to have a service that is easy to get to and meets their needs,” she said. “We look forward to welcoming our community to the new site and continuing to provide a safe, efficient and patient-centred service.”

Cllr Hazel Evans, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said she was pleased to see the building being used for its intended purpose.

“I am pleased to see Canolfan Pentre Awel being used for its intended purpose, by offering frontline medical health care services to our community in a more accessible location,” she said.

Canolfan Pentre Awel opened to the public in October 2025 and offers improved accessibility, transport links and parking. A new hydrotherapy pool opened there in February 2026 — made possible through a partnership between Carmarthenshire County Council, Hywel Dda and charitable donations from the Llanelli Hydrotherapy Pool Committee, the Elizabeth Williams Endowment, Treat Trust Wales and the Welsh Government.

For patients travelling by public transport, the L1 and L2 bus routes connect Canolfan Pentre Awel to key locations across Llanelli approximately every 90 minutes, including Llanelli town centre, Parc Trostre, Prince Philip Hospital and Felinfoel. The L11 route serves Kidwelly and surrounding areas at the start and end of the day.

Patients must pre-book blood test appointments online at hduhb.nhs.wales/healthcare/services-and-teams/blood-tests or by calling the Communications Hub on 0300 303 9642. A referral from a medical professional is required to access the service.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

BLOOD TEST SHUFFLE: Llanelli patients moved AGAIN as services shift to new £60m Pentre Awel site
The March 2026 story confirming the Pentre Awel move was coming.

Health Board moves Llanelli blood tests to out-of-town industrial park
The controversial 2024 move to Dafen that left patients without bus services stranded.