Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Patients and visitors at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth are being advised of temporary traffic control measures which will affect the way they can access the hospital over the next six months. From 13 February there will be no vehicle access to the hospital via Caradog Road as work begins to improve the theatre lifts. Patients can still be dropped off at the outpatient entrance, but vehicles will not be able to park there or access the hospital site to park. Parking will be designated for patients and their visitors in the multi-storey car park which can be accessed from Penglais Road. Pedestrian access to the hospital can then be made by the upper or lower entrances with lift of stair access to the rest of the site. During this period, night access to the site will be via the Accident and Emergency entrance. Hospital Director, Dr Phil Jones, said: “We apologise to patients and their visitors for the inconvenience that is being caused whilst these essential works are carried out. “...

Bronglais Hospital has become the first in Wales to provide a training programme for Physician Associates, who are trained to support doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients. In association with Birmingham University, Bronglais has taken Physician Associates in psychiatry, general medicine, paediatrics, maternity, gynaecology, general surgery and accident and emergency. Hywel Dda University Health Board has been working with Powys Teaching Health Board through the Mid Wales Healthcare Collaborative to provide clinical placements in primary and secondary care. The health board is currently arranging placement opportunities within Bronglais Hospital and GP surgeries after qualification, and expects these new members of the medical workforce to make a positive contribution to the way in which clinical services are delivered. Physician Associates are trained to perform a number of roles such as taking medical histories, performing examinations, analysing test results, and dia...

For the second year running, Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth has come out as the top hospital in Wales for quality of care provided for patients undergoing an emergency laparotomy, according to a national audit. The National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) report also shows for the second year running, Bronglais is the only hospital in Wales to be highly rated for carrying out postoperative assessments by a specialist in patients over the age of 70. In fact, across both Wales and England, this element was only seen in fewer than 10% of older patients and for Bronglais to have been marked ‘green’ means this standard is being met for at least 80% of patients. Dr Phil Jones, Hospital Director of Bronglais General Hospital, praised the continuing success of the service in Aberystwyth: “These results are a reflection on the dedication and skill of the surgeons, anaesthetists, theatre and ward nurses, operating department assistants and all the support staff who care for patients with ...

Bronglais General Hospital is looking for enthusiastic and considerate volunteers to help with the transport of patients, staff and items. Whether you can spare a few hours once a week or a couple of days each month, there will be an opportunity for you. Each volunteer will need to have their own car to respond to ad hoc transport requests, with driving costs reimbursed at the University Health Board’s volunteer mileage rate. A good knowledge of the local area or a satellite navigation system is required as you will sometimes need to collect people from their own homes, or take them back from hospital. To become a volunteer driver you will need to meet the following requirements: - You must have a minimum of 5 years driving experience - You must have no more than 3 points on your driving licence - You must be able to respond to a transport request within 20 minutes (during the period you have identified yourself as available) - Your car must have four doors, be clean and...

Hywel Dda University Health Board has received the final reports following unannounced spot checks at Bronglais, Glangwili, Prince Philip and Withybush Hospitals. The spot checks of adult inpatient wards at district general hospitals in Wales were carried out by an independent team of senior individuals as part of the Welsh Government’s response to an independent review of care at the Princess of Wales and Neath Port Talbot hospitals, by Professor June Andrews and Mark Butler. They took place between June 15 and July 30 and focused on four areas highlighted in the Trusted to Care report: medicines management; hydration; the use of night-time sedation and continence care. Director of Nursing and Midwifery Caroline Oakley said: “Hywel Dda University Health Board and its staff are committed to providing high quality care and treating each and every patient with dignity and respect. We are pleased that spot checks across Wales found no systemic issues of concern and areas of good practice ...

Dr Phil Jones, Consultant Physician at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth, has been appointed as Wales’ first national clinical lead for stroke services. As national clinical lead, he will work with the Welsh Government and NHS Wales to take forward and oversee the continued implementation of the Stroke Delivery Plan and lead improvements in stroke care across Wales. Dr Jones is a consultant physician with an interest in care of the elderly and sub-specialty interests in neurology and rehabilitation. Health Minister Mark Drakeford Professor Drakeford said: “I’m very pleased to confirm the appointment of Dr Jones as the first national clinical lead for stroke care. “Dr Jones has considerable experience in his field and I look forward to working with him as he provides clinical leadership to transform stroke services in Wales so we improve services for the better.” Dr Jones, said: “Stroke services in Wales have improved measurably over the last few years but there is still more we can d...

Hywel Dda University Health Board has moved to reassure Ceredigion residents following recent misleading reports regarding the future of Bronglais Hospital’s maternity services. Caroline Oakley, Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery at Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “Contrary to recent reports, no such announcement or decision has been made by Hywel Dda University Health Board regarding the future of maternity services at Bronglais Hospital. “We await the outcome of the independently led Mid Wales Healthcare Study. This piece of work is pivotal in informing the future direction of all services provided for the communities in Ceredigion, north Powys and south Gwynedd. “Bronglais continues to provide both midwifery led and consultant led care. We have communicated this in our recent information booklet 'Where Will I Have My Baby', designed to help women from across our area to choose where to give birth. The University Health Board’s online resources at  www.hyweld...

Children at Bronglais Hospital now have a bright and colourful setting to be treated in thanks to Welsh TV channel S4C. S4C launched a national campaign to inject some of Cyw’s colourful world into children’s wards in hospitals across Wales. The scheme has already visited Carmarthen’s Glangwili Hospital and has now brightened up the children’s ward at Bronglais with pictures of Cyw and friends. Other wards in hospitals across Wales will be decorated in a similar way over the coming months. Director of Communications, Marketing and Partnerships at S4C, Garffild Lloyd Lewis hopes that the campaign will help lift children’s spirits when receiving treatment in Wales’s hospitals. “We hope that this new campaign will be a small contribution to the efforts made to ensure that time spent in hospitals isn’t too uncomfortable for children in Wales. We know that staff in wards across the country are working tirelessly to lift the children’s spirits everyday as they receive their treatme...

The Aberystwyth Tarannau Cheerleaders have raised £400 for Angharad Ward, Bronglais Hospital. Aberystwyth Tarannau Cheerleaders is a group of around 45 active members which provides a fun, active sport for the students of Aberystwyth. The group also represents Aberystwyth University on competitions and through community work. The money was raised by the members doing a bag pack at the local Cooperative Store, a showcase for friends to see their competition routines and a bake sale at the university where over 200 cakes were sold! Cassi Adelmann, Captain of Aberystwyth Tarannau Cheerleaders, said: “We decided to raise money for Angharad ward as it provides a vital service to the community of Aberystwyth and further afield. We are proud to be supporting such a worthy cause.” Junior Sister, Sian Southgate, Angharad Ward said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this donation money from Aberystwyth Tarannau Cheerleaders. It is extremely kind of them and we very much appreciate the...

Volunteers who help patients and staff at hospitals in Ceredigion have been thanked. As part of the 30th Anniversary celebrations of National Volunteers Week, volunteers from the university health board’s Volunteering for Health project and from League of Friends attended a special event hosted by Vice-Chair Sian-Marie James. The League of Friends of Bronglais Hospital and Community and the League of Friends of Tregaron Hospital received a Chairman’s certificate of commendation for the invaluable support of their fundraising activities over a number of years which has helped to improve patient services and experiences. Cardigan Hospital and Community League of Friends will also receive the Certificate of Commendation but were unable to attend the presentation. The Chairman of Hywel Dda University Health Board, usually awards commendations to staff who work above and beyond their call of duty to help to improve services. This is the first time that anyone other than a staff memb...

Mums and babies will now benefit from a new maternity unit at Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth. The unit has been developed as part of the front of house scheme which totals more than £38million of investment directly into Ceredigion healthcare. The new maternity unit is a modern facility with more single and double room accommodation with en-suite facilities. Other facilities include a family room for women who wish to have home from home birth, mood lighting in some rooms, increased water birth facility and a state of the art security system for babies The new unit is based on level 4 of the surgical block and can only be accessed through security doors, there is a waiting area for family and friends. Peter Skitt, Acute Services Director, said: ““The Front of House project represents the biggest single investment ever made into Bronglais Hospital and demonstrates our commitment to the hospital, its staff and infrastructure.” The Front of House scheme is one of Hywel Dda University Hea...

Staff from Bronglais Hospital have helped raise the importance of ‘loving your liver’  The Love Your Liver campaign is a national awareness initiative by the British Liver Trust and highlights how just staying off alcohol for two to three days at a time, avoiding fatty foods and taking regular exercise are great ways to look after your liver. Nurse Trevor Bond and colleagues arranged an information board in the hospital canteen with your various leaflets, which included a laptop playing the Love Your Liver DVD, and also held a liver quiz to win a box of fruit – well done guys!! For more information go to www.loveyourliver.org.uk/

Volunteers and staff at Bronglais Hospital’s Ty Geraint are offering support to patients. The Living Well Support Group meet at Aberystwyth Leisure Centre, Plas Crug on the first Tuesday of every month. Run by Volunteering for Health volunteer Carol Smart in conjunction with the palliative care team the group aims to support people living with the effects of life limiting illness: patients, carers, relatives and friends. Carol said: “There is usually an activity on offer such as drawing, crafts, tai chi, singing and artists from ‘Haul’, Hywel Dda Arts in Health group are regular presenters – but there is always time for coffee and chat. Gudrun Jones, Art Therapist, palliative care at Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “Getting involved in the arts and creative activities is more and more recognised as a beneficial strategy for dealing with the affects of illness which can have life changing long term side affects.” One group member said: "The group brightens my day and ge...

The new Day Surgery Unit at Bronglais Hospital is set to open on Tuesday 9 April 2013. The new unit is part of the £38million front of house development at the hospital which is the largest capital investment in Hywel Dda Health Board. It is situated on the first floor of the new extension and the two level car park has a link bridge from the top level to the DSU floor. Out of hours the main entrance (DSU level) will be locked so patients coming to A&E should park on the ground level with the A&E walking entrance opposite the exit of the car park. People are reminded that access to A&E for both blue light ambulances and patients is now off Penglais Road, not Caradog Road. Jeremy Brown, County Director, said: “The new facilities being provided as part of the front of house scheme will not only meet the need of today’s community but caters for the needs of the community in 20 years time.” The build was funded by the Welsh Government and secures the future of Bronglais as a Di...

Accident and Emergency Consultant, Dr Khalid Bashir has had a once in a lifetime experience by volunteering as a medic at the 2012 Olympic games Dr Bashir has now returned to duty at Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth, after working as an A & E medic at the recent Olympic Games. Dr Bashir was based in the emergency department of the Olympic Village for one month. The medics in the Olympic village had access to very modern equipment such as a 3D MRI scanner and ultrasound and CT scanners. Dr Bashir treated a wide range of injuries and ailments including simple sprains, cardiac problems, cruciate ligament injuries, fractures, typhoid and malaria Amongst the famous faces that Dr Bashir met were members of the Royal family, politicians, members of Team GB and athletes from around the world. Dr Bashir said: “It was a great experience being part of the British medical team of the world’s biggest sporting event. “It was very useful for my professional development as there were regular teach...

Hywel Dda Health Board has assured the public that the closure of Afallon ward in Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth, is temporary. The closure was necessary because it was not a safe environment for patients or staff due to recruitment issues. At this week’s public meeting in Aberystwyth on the health board’s Your Health Your Future Consulting our Communities, the health board emphasised the importance of mental health services. Chairman Chris Martin said decisions like this are only ever taken when all other options have been exhausted and are taken with a ‘heavy heart’. He said: “Hywel Dda Health Board has made every effort to maintain the service, including actively trying to recruit staff and improving the ward environment. “Our priorities are patient safety and staff welfare. To ensure that our patients continue to receive the care they need in a safe environment with appropriately trained staff every effort is being made to ensure the alternative accommodation is suitable for the i...

The service road which provides access to the back entrance of Bronglais hospital will be closed for essential works from July 16- September 2, 2012 required as part of the £38million Bronglais Hospital’s Front of House scheme. Traffic lights will be put up at the top of the service road so delivery vehicles can exit via the one way system at the top of the hospital. Assistant Project Director Hayley Thomas said: “This closure should mainly only effect deliveries and visitors to the management building. “For patients and their visitors car parking is already provided in the multi storey car park and outside the Postgraduate Centre. “We apologies for any inconvenience this might cause and we will do everything possible to keep disruption to an absolute minimum.” The Front of House scheme includes development of a new emergency department, clinical decisions unit, and GP out-of-hours services, purpose-built day surgery unit, incorporating new day case operating theatres, new short-s...

Hywel Dda Health Board | Lighting the way for Bronglais Patients An Olympic torchbearer returned to Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth to celebrate his once in a lifetime experience with those who helped nurse him back to health. Richard ‘Richie’ Denyer, 60, from Aberystwyth, ran his part of the 70 day, UK-wide Olympic Torch relay through Brynhoffnant in Ceredigion. A remarkable achievement as Richie suffered a stroke in 2001 whilst riding a motorbike, leaving him severely injured and wheelchair bound.  He was admitted to Bronglais Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where he spent 28 days before he could be moved onto a ward.

Hywel Dda Health Board | Have your heart tested for free On Saturday (10th March), people aged between 14 and 35 can have their heart tested for free at Bronglais Hospital. All they need to do is simply go to www.testmyheart.org to book an appointment.