The South Wales Programme proposes fundamental changes to the way in which
hospital services are delivered to the Rhondda and to others throughout
South Wales. The consultation document refers to a ‘best-fit’ model based on a
five-hospital Option 3 with key services of consultant-led maternity and
neo-natal care, inpatient children’s services and emergency medicine based at
the Heath in Cardiff, Morriston in Swansea, the new critical care centre
planned for Cwmbran, Prince Charles in Merthyr and Princess of Wales in Bridgend.
I believe that this proposal is not the best option for either my Rhondda
constituents or the South Wales population as a whole.
I do not dispute the case for change, nor the challenges facing the NHS in Wales.
However, my conclusions from assessing the evidence are different. I believe
that the interests of South Wales and South Powys are better served by Option
4, with these key services of consultant-led maternity and neo-natal care,
inpatient children’s services and emergency medicine based at Heath in Cardiff,
Morriston in Swansea, the new critical care centre planned for Cwmbran, Prince
Charles in Merthyr and the Royal Glamorgan hospital.
I sent in a full submission to the consultation, arguing
Option 3 will result in serious and unequalled
pressures on maternity and neo-natal services at UHW
Option 4 would address this risk
The financial arguments are significantly in
favour of Option 4
Option 3 will produce worse health outcomes
and accentuate health inequalities
Travel issues for patient visitors and
elective patients have not been properly considered
Emergency journey times would increase and
treatment outcomes for those in the most significant areas of deprivation could
be worsened
As an alternative, the SWP should consider a
further option, based around a joint governance model for the two M4 corridor
hospitals at PoW and Royal Glamorgan, with consultant-led facilities being
managed across the two hospitals
Finally, it is essential that the long-term
security of the Royal Glamorgan Hospital is maintained, with serious
consideration given to its adoption as a centre of excellence for specific
designated clinical disciplines.
Apparently, there have been over 50,000 responses to the
consultation. That shows how passionate people are about the issues. I want to
thank everyone from the Rhondda who has got involved. The number of responses
means the decision will not be finally taken until much later in the year.
(This was my Rhondda Leader column in August)
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