CAMPAIGNERS warned there is
“no room for complacency” after health chiefs endorsed a plan not to downgrade
services at the Princess of Wales Hospital.
Bosses behind controversial
shake-up plans for hospitals in South Wales yesterday formally recommended that
the PoW retain key services, as the Gazette exclusively revealed last
week.
The hospital was named by
the South Wales Programme’s board as a “best fit” to become one of five
“regional centres” along with University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, Morriston
Hospital, Swansea, and the new Critical Care Centre, near Cwmbran.
Merthyr Tydfil’s Prince
Charles Hospital is also among the health board’s preferred sites, meaning
specialist services at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant could be
downgraded.
Abertawe Bro
Morgannwg, Aneurin Bevan,
Cardiff and Vale, Cwm Taf and Powys health boards agreed to adopt the South
Wales Programme’s recommendation on Wednesday. The plans will now be subject to
an eight-week public consultation, which starts today.
If it does become a
regional centre, PoW will treat more
patients from a wider
catchment area but would retain its 24/7 specialist A&E department,
consultant-led baby care service and inpatient children’s ward.
Campaigners said they were
encouraged by the news that PoW could become a regional centre – but urged
caution.
The three other options
would all see PoW lose consultant-led accident and emergency, maternity and
children’s services.
Mel Hughes, of Carmen
Street, Caerau, organised a march in February against the possible loss of
specialist services.
“It’s imperative that the
people of Bridgend are aware that this is only a recommendation and this
decision can be changed,” he said.
“I’m very encouraged about
the proposal that Bridgend becomes a regional centre because at the beginning of
our campaign it looked like Bridgend was not getting anything.”
He added: “I’m really
delighted at the proposal we remain a regional centre but we still have to be
careful.”
Ian Spiller – the driving
force behind the Bridgend Princess Of Wales – Save Our Services – Stop the
Downgrade campaign – said: “The fight is far from over – that is the view that
I would like to get across.
“In Bridgend we cannot
afford to be complacent.”
Health chiefs argue staff
shortages are being compounded by recruitment problems, making safe standards of
clinical care more difficult to sustain.
Dr Graham Shortland,
medical director of Cardiff and Vale University health board, said: “We cannot
continue to provide consultant-led maternity and neonatal care, inpatient
children’s services and emergency medicine for the most seriously-injured and
sickest patients in all hospitals – we are not providing the highest quality
care for patients all the time and our doctors are spread too
thinly.
“Concentrating these
services in fewer hospitals in South Wales will mean that patients with
life-threatening injuries and illnesses will get faster access to senior
clinicians when they come to hospital.
“The changes will help
improve the standard of care we are able to give to all patients when they come
to hospital in the future.”
Health board bosses said if
the proposal goes ahead, some services – such as planned surgery – could be
transferred to the Royal Glamorgan from the Princess of Wales and the University
Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.
Bethan Jenkins, Plaid Cymru
AM for South Wales West, said: “Once again, I find myself disappointed by how a
health service consultation is being framed.
“The proposals raise a
considerable number of questions on how they will be delivered.
“These four options could
well force people into turf wars over saving services at their local hospital.
It’s important to remember this consultation has come about through a failure of
management, not a failure of services.
“People pay their taxes
because they believe in investing in the health service. Instead, we are being
told that not enough doctors can be recruited by health board directors who were
appointed to do just that – and paid very handsomely for it.”
Liberal Democrat AM Peter
Black said: “These proposals are not set in stone. We need to remain vigilant,
continue to make the case for our hospitals to keep these services locally and
above all, ensure that the new consultation reflects the views of residents in
Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend.”
Tory AMs Byron Davies and
Suzy Davies challenged the
Labour-led Welsh Government
to tackle the root of the problem.
“I accept there is a
recruitment crisis in Wales in attracting more doctors especially in emergency
medicine but the Welsh Labour Government needs to tackle the causes rather than
seek to centralise emergency medicine in too few centres,” said Mr
Davies.
Suzy Davies said: “The
fight put up by the people of Bridgend and the Vale to keep all services at PoW
has been critical. But there is no room for complacency.
“This is only a
recommendation so it is essential we keep up the pressure to ensure we retain a
viable hospital in Bridgend.”
Labour’s Ogmore AM Janice
Gregory AM said: “I am pleased that the public will now get their say on
definite proposals, including the recommended option of five centres including
the Princess of Wales. Nothing is yet decided so I would urge everyone to
respond to the consultation.”
Bridgend AM and First
Minister for Wales Carwyn Jones told the Gazette: “It’s important that the
Princess of Wales is a regional centre as a preferred option.
“It’s important still of
course that people make their views known as part of the consultation process
but it shows the strength of the hospital in terms of its staff and training
facilities.”
He added: “As far as
Bridgend is concerned it’s a preferred
option and that is
something I will continue to advocate.”
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