Cancer care remains at Withybush Hospital, Pembrokeshire
Hywel Dda University Health Board has no intention to remove cancer services from Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.
A change has been made to the way in-patient services are delivered at Withybush Hospital due to medical staffing problems.
As is usual practice in district general hospitals, patients will be admitted to hospital through the Acute Clinical Decision Unit or the Emergency and Urgent Care Centre so there is no delay to their treatment.
A change has been made to the way in-patient services are delivered at Withybush Hospital due to medical staffing problems.
As is usual practice in district general hospitals, patients will be admitted to hospital through the Acute Clinical Decision Unit or the Emergency and Urgent Care Centre so there is no delay to their treatment.
Patients with cancer related problems will still usually be placed on ward 10, although some will be placed on other wards depending on the clinical problem.
For example they may be placed on a surgical ward if they have problems best looked after by a surgeon.
Patients will be looked after by experienced general physicians and their teams with specialist oncology input from within the university health board or from the specialist cancer centre at ABMU Health Board.
Patients will be looked after by experienced general physicians and their teams with specialist oncology input from within the university health board or from the specialist cancer centre at ABMU Health Board.
This is the usual practice in district general hospitals throughout the UK.
This does not affect out-patient services or the delivery of out-patient chemotherapy.
Dr Sian Lewis Acute Services Clinical Director said: “It is important that patients, their families and the general public understand that we continue to provide cancer services at Withybush Hospital. We have had to change the way we provide in-patient care because of problems in recruitment of a suitably trained oncologist. This means that patients will be admitted under the care of general physicians with the support of specialist oncologist rather than directly under an oncologist. This is the usual model of care in district general hospitals throughout the UK.
“This change has happened because our recently appointed a locum consultant oncologist left on the 19th of September. We have re-advertised and continue to work with recruitment agencies however there are currently more than 30 consultant oncologist vacancies across the UK and recruitment is a significant challenge.
“The new model of care will enable us to maintain in-patient services locally and for certain complications of cancer therapy, should improve the way we deliver care. Importantly, out-patient and chemotherapy services remain unchanged.”
The university health board has met with staff to communicate the changes.
This does not affect out-patient services or the delivery of out-patient chemotherapy.
Dr Sian Lewis Acute Services Clinical Director said: “It is important that patients, their families and the general public understand that we continue to provide cancer services at Withybush Hospital. We have had to change the way we provide in-patient care because of problems in recruitment of a suitably trained oncologist. This means that patients will be admitted under the care of general physicians with the support of specialist oncologist rather than directly under an oncologist. This is the usual model of care in district general hospitals throughout the UK.
“This change has happened because our recently appointed a locum consultant oncologist left on the 19th of September. We have re-advertised and continue to work with recruitment agencies however there are currently more than 30 consultant oncologist vacancies across the UK and recruitment is a significant challenge.
“The new model of care will enable us to maintain in-patient services locally and for certain complications of cancer therapy, should improve the way we deliver care. Importantly, out-patient and chemotherapy services remain unchanged.”
The university health board has met with staff to communicate the changes.
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