The number of hospitals in South Wales offering specialist care for the most sick and badly injured will be reduced to four or five under proposals to modernise the NHS (“Revamp plan for hospitals”, September 27).
It always amazes me that cuts and reductions in services are linked with modernisation and efficiency. Of course, we are told that this is not a cost-cutting exercise and the proposals are not determined by any financial considerations, but of course, they are, as otherwise everybody wold have access to a consultant led A&E department in their “local” hospital.
Two new hospitals have been built in the last few years, at a cost, no doubt, of many millions of pounds, in Ystrad Mynach and Mountain Ash.
But apart from being able to treat only the most minor of ailments and conditions, patients still have to travel further for treatment, despite having a brand new “hospital” on their doorstep. making these new hospitals nothing more than glorified doctor surgeries, and a waste of public money.
The proposals, we are told, will affect only a small percentage of patients, the sickest and most seriously injured. Oh well, that’s OK then! Only those who are at very real risk of death hanging around their shoulders will be affected. I’m sure those nearest and dearest to these people will be heartened by that.
Politicians are once again missing the point. The issues surrounding those with sickness and ill-health is not just about the treatment they receive. Where they receive it is often as important to eventual recovery.
None of us, including, our friends, and family want to travel for miles, very often on public transport, to receive life saving or life altering treatment. We want to be in familiar surroundings at this time and not have to worry about the logistics of getting to and from the hospital.
Even the Health Minister Lesley Griffiths said in the Senedd: “Patients need to have safe and sustainable services as close to home as possible.”
Reducing our access to essential services down to only four hospitals for the whole of South Wales is simply not providing this.
Money must be saved elsewhere – less consultation – perhaps on to smoke or not to smoke in hospital grounds for example or whether to remove snack vending machines.
The Health Minister must not forget that the raison d’etre of the NHS is to provide efficient health care, at the point of need, for the people. These new proposals could lead to unnecessary deaths at worst and at best a lot more aggravation and discomfort for those least able to handle it.
C Maskell
Nelson
Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/letters-to-the-editor/south-wales-echo-letters/2012/10/03/health-not-just-about-treatment-but-where-we-receive-it-91466-31952423/#ixzz28kWbpp1A
this is not an official Princess of Wales Hospital Page, the purpose of this page is to mobilise support against any future downgrade that may occur as part of the current review of Health Services in South Wales.
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