24th January 2013

Public healthcare changes expected in West Wales

A series of controversial proposals to change hospital services in West Wales has been approved by Hywel Dda Health Board.

At a special meeting held on Tuesday the board – which covers, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire – agreed a number of changes based on delivering care closer to people’s own homes and communities, ensuring hospitals are equipped to deal with the most seriously ill people.

The approval of the plans, which include the closure of a community hospital and changes to the A&E department at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli, follow a 12-week consultation process which ended in October 2012.

One of the most heavily campaigned against proposals – to close the special care baby unit at Haverfordwest’s Withybush Hospital – was also approved, with care for new born babies to be centralised at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen.

The recommendations included:

* Mynydd Mawr Hospital in Tumble – services currently delivered from the hospital will be delivered within the community and at a newly created ward at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli;

* Minor Injury Unit at Tenby and South Pembrokeshire will also close. Nursing staff will be redeployed to support Withybush emergency services;

* Orthopaedic day care and short stay (including hip and knee replacement surgery) will be retained in all three counties following consultation, while a new specialist orthopaedic centre will be created at Prince Philip Hospital;

* Newly-formed 24/7 emergency departments co-located with purpose-built clinical and assessment facilities to be provided at Bronglais, Withybush and Glangwili, while the health board has broadened its proposal for Prince Philip Hospital so that the clinically led group will explore unscheduled care services and front door services; and

* Services for women and children – the proposals support the retention of obstetric and paediatric services and each county with a complex obstetric unit, neonatal unit and high-dependency paediatric unit at Glangwili Hospital, subject to the recommendation of paediatric doctors.

Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2013/01/15/major-west-wales-healthcare-changes-approved-by-hywel-dda-health-board-91466-32605794/#ixzz2Iu6cuoSJ