New High Dependency Unit for Glangwili, Carmarthen
Hywel Dda Health Board aims to have High Dependency Unit for Children and a Complex Obstetric Unit for the first time by the end 2015.
The extraordinary board meeting supported recommendations to develop the new units at Glangwili Hospital (see earlier posts for other decisions taken by the extraordinary meeting).
The extraordinary board meeting supported recommendations to develop the new units at Glangwili Hospital (see earlier posts for other decisions taken by the extraordinary meeting).
The board also agreed to continue to aspire to achieve a Level 2 neonatal service in Glangwili Hospital, whilst acknowledging this is unlikely with the present availability of trainee doctors.
The Health Board listened to concerns raised in consultation about the level of care for babies who unexpectedly need specialist care and therefore the board has committed to developing clear and robust stabilisation and resuscitation services at Bronglais, Glangwili and Withybush Hospitals.
However, the Neonatal Network believes that we can only deliver effective special care if we consolidate on one site, which will be Glangwili Hospital, improving delivery of a safe service to babies.
Ante-natal care will continue to be provided locally across the three counties, even for those mothers identified as having high risk pregnancies to check that pregnancies are progressing safely and as planned.
Women with uncomplicated pregnancies, which will be the vast majority of pregnancies, will also still be able to give birth at Bronglais, Glangwili and Withybush Hospitals or at home with the support of highly trained staff.
Dr Sue Fish, Medical Director, said: “The Neonatal Network believes that we can only deliver effective special care if we consolidate it on one site. This means continued ongoing specialist care for babies has to be provided at one hospital, which will be Glangwili Hospital.
“We acknowledge the high quality care that is presently provided by staff at all sites and concern about the lack of special care facilities on two sites. The implementation phase will be clinically led and will explicitly describe the resuscitation and stabilisation services that will be available on each site. The implementation process will also have to describe the high dependency service that will be available for neonates in Hywel Dda Health Board and the relationship with the level 3 unit in Swansea.”
Obstetric and paediatric services will also be retained in each county. However, If recruitment problems mitigate against safe and sustainable acute Paediatric services in both Glangwili and Withybush Hospitals, it was approved that we would develop a single service in Glangwili Hospital for the South of Hywel Dda.
The clinically led implementation group, which will include staff from all sites, will now be set up to lead the change process. This process will follow a phased process which means changes will only be implemented when it is judged safe to do so.
The full recommendation report, and other resources, can be found at www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/Consultation
The Health Board listened to concerns raised in consultation about the level of care for babies who unexpectedly need specialist care and therefore the board has committed to developing clear and robust stabilisation and resuscitation services at Bronglais, Glangwili and Withybush Hospitals.
However, the Neonatal Network believes that we can only deliver effective special care if we consolidate on one site, which will be Glangwili Hospital, improving delivery of a safe service to babies.
Ante-natal care will continue to be provided locally across the three counties, even for those mothers identified as having high risk pregnancies to check that pregnancies are progressing safely and as planned.
Women with uncomplicated pregnancies, which will be the vast majority of pregnancies, will also still be able to give birth at Bronglais, Glangwili and Withybush Hospitals or at home with the support of highly trained staff.
Dr Sue Fish, Medical Director, said: “The Neonatal Network believes that we can only deliver effective special care if we consolidate it on one site. This means continued ongoing specialist care for babies has to be provided at one hospital, which will be Glangwili Hospital.
“We acknowledge the high quality care that is presently provided by staff at all sites and concern about the lack of special care facilities on two sites. The implementation phase will be clinically led and will explicitly describe the resuscitation and stabilisation services that will be available on each site. The implementation process will also have to describe the high dependency service that will be available for neonates in Hywel Dda Health Board and the relationship with the level 3 unit in Swansea.”
Obstetric and paediatric services will also be retained in each county. However, If recruitment problems mitigate against safe and sustainable acute Paediatric services in both Glangwili and Withybush Hospitals, it was approved that we would develop a single service in Glangwili Hospital for the South of Hywel Dda.
The clinically led implementation group, which will include staff from all sites, will now be set up to lead the change process. This process will follow a phased process which means changes will only be implemented when it is judged safe to do so.
The full recommendation report, and other resources, can be found at www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/Consultation
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