Good news for colorectal patients in the Aberystwyth area

Hywel Dda Health Board has announced it has offered a post to a Locum Consultant Surgeon with an interest in colorectal surgery at Bronglais General Hospital, Aberystwyth.
This means that the vast majority of healthcare for colorectal patients will continue to be provided to the local population from the Aberystwyth hospital.
The consultant is due to start with the Health Board in June 2013, subject to contracts being agreed.
Medical Director Dr Sue Fish said: “We are delighted to have made this important appointment, which will help us in developing a Hywel Dda Specialist Colorectal Cancer Team. This team will support the investigation, surgery and follow up care to all colorectal cancer patients who access their health care from Hywel Dda Health Board.”
For a short interim period, until the consultant can start in post, colorectal cancer surgery will be provided to Hywel Dda Health Board patients from Glangwili and Withybush Hospitals, as Bronglais Hospital will not have a fully accredited colorectal surgeon.

This is to protect patient safety, in line with guidelines from the Association of Colorectal Surgeons, and ensure the best patient outcomes.
Dr Sue Fish said: “Patients affected will be directly contacted by the Health Board in regards to their future treatment plans. The majority of their care can still be delivered at Bronglais Hospital, but for a temporary period of about three months; cancer surgery will need to be undertaken elsewhere by fully accredited colorectal cancer surgeons. This is a clinical decision, taken in the best interests of our patients – we cannot compromise on the quality and safety of our services and we must provide patients with the best possible treatment.”
Guidelines for the management of colorectal cancer recommend that surgery for colorectal cancer should only be carried out by ‘surgeons with appropriate training and experience, working as part of a multi-disciplinary team’.

Evidence supports that patients who are operated on by surgeons who do not meet these requirements have a higher cancer recurrence rate and a higher rate of long term stoma.
It is anticipated this will affect between two and three patients a month for the temporary period, with all patients being treated as locally as possible wherever possible and in the best interests of their safety and clinical outcomes.
The endoscopy unit will not be affected by this temporary change.
The temporary change is effective immediately and the Community Health Council has been informed.