Advice to Pembrokeshire parents on changes to paediatric services

Hywel Dda University Health Board is providing information to Pembrokeshire parents on changes to paediatric services, including information on what to do if your child is unwell, ahead of service changes being made later this month.
From Monday 20th October 2014, there will be changes to some healthcare services for children and young people.
All Pembrokeshire households and businesses are being sent a leaflet about the changes through the post.

Posters are being distributed to health and community locations, a radio advertisement will provide people with contacts for further information and newspaper adverts will appear in major publications. Resources are also available on the University Health Board’s website at www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/yourfutureservices
Most paediatric services remain unchanged and will be accessed in the usual way, including all community, outpatient and minor injury services.
There will be a 12-hour (10am-10pm), seven day a week paediatric assessment unit in Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, an overnight inpatient paediatric unit in Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen, and a new dedicated high dependency paediatric unit to serve the entire area, also based in Glangwili Hospital.
In the PAU at Withybush Hospital there will be beds for assessment, day treatments and investigations and care will be provided by paediatric consultants, doctors, children’s nurses and other health care professionals.
Consultant Paediatrician and Clinical Lead for Paediatrics, Dr Simon Fountain-Polley said: “Many children can be treated in this way and do not need an overnight stay. This can include children with sudden onset of pain, sickness, temperatures or infections. We will also be able to treat children and young people who need dressings, blood tests, x-rays or scans in Withybush Hospital.”
If your child is unwell, you can do a number of things:

• call NHS Direct Wales – 0845 46 47 – they can advise you if you are unsure what to do, as well as provide health information on a wide range of conditions, treatment and local health services 
• use your community pharmacy 
• make an appointment with your GP as usual, including out-of-hours GP services, which are contacted through your normal GP telephone number 
• for a paediatric minor injury, go to Withybush Emergency and Urgent Care Centre (EUCC) 24 hours a day (please note there is no change to adult services at the EUCC) 

In an emergency, if your child is very sick, you should dial 999 and ask for an ambulance rather than go directly to Withybush Emergency and Urgent Care Centre.
For assistance in deciding the best service to meet your needs, the Choose Well guidance will help you, go to www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/choosewell