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

Hywel Dda Health Board yesterday approved the closure of Mynydd Mawr Hospital in Tumble. An extraordinary board meeting of the Hywel Dda Health Trust approved the transfer of services provided from Mynydd Mawr Hospital in Tumble into the community and a new service at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli. The press release said - The Health Board has listened to all feedback received from the consultation exercise and other evidence, and subsequently approved a broader recommendation that will provide multi-specialty care to the frailest of our inpatients bringing together Psychiatry for the Elderly and Geriatric Medicine. The Board also committed to the ongoing planning and development of a modern, state-of-the-art community resource centre at Cross Hands as part of investment into community services to provide care as close to a patient’s home as possible. It is anticipated that the new service at Prince Philip Hospital will be ready to accommodate patients by summer 2013 and the ne...

Hywel Dda Health Board has confirmed that is has listened to consultation feedback and short stay orthopaedic surgery, including hip and knee replacements, will continue to provided in each of the three counties. Only revisions and complex procedures will be undertaken at an Orthopaedic Centre at Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli, for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire patients, and increasingly patients from other parts of South Wales. Patients will benefit from a high quality service that will reduce the current duplication within the service and a reduction in the number of operations cancelled due to unplanned, emergency cases. This is because theatres at Prince Philip Hospital only carry out planned operations. Patients who currently have to travel outside of the Health Board area will also be able to receive more specialist and complex orthopaedic procedures, revisions and specialist rehabilitation closer to home in Llanelli. Dr Phil Kloer, Director of Clinical Services said: ...

Hywel Dda Health Board will provide care closer to home by providing minor injury services from community locations in future, and has listened to consultation feedback and will be providing an additional service for the peak tourist period for Tenby. During Your Health Your Future Consultation people were asked about transferring minor injury services currently provided at South Pembrokeshire and Tenby Hospitals to community based services. The extraordinary board meeting today (January 15) supported recommendations to commission enhanced access to primary care (community based) services, close the units and redeploy the specialist nursing staff to emergency services at Withybush Hospital. In recognition of concerns express regarding the increase in activity experienced at the Tenby Unit during the peak tourist season, a seasonal minor injuries service will initially be piloted for eight weeks from mid July to September (including weekends and Bank Holidays). The provider of the ...

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 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 babie...

Hywel Dda Health Board has approved a series of recommendations – amended in light of consultation feedback and evidence received - to provide first class healthcare services to the local population, now and into the future. At an Extraordinary Board Meeting on Tuesday January 15, board members agreed a number of changes to healthcare services that will support delivery of more care closer to people’s own homes and communities, ensuring hospitals are equipped to deal with the most seriously ill Consultation proposals have been amended following engagement and consultation exercises*: Mynydd Mawr Hospital services, currently delivered from the hospital, will be delivered within the community and a new service at Prince Philip Hospital. The original proposal was broadened following consultation feedback and evidence, so that the new service will provide multi-specialty care to the frailest of inpatients, including geriatric medicine and psychiatry for the elderly.  we will provide ...

A whole raft of decisions have been announced at an Extraordinary Board Meeting of the Hywel Dda Health Trust. They include the following verdict (press release) on Llanelli's Accident and Emergency (A&E) department  . . .  24/7 A&E departments, co-located with purpose-built clinical decision and assessment facilities, will be provided in Aberystwyth, Carmarthen and Haverfordwest, the Extraordinary Board Meeting confirmed. The Health Board has listened to all feedback received from the consultation exercise and other evidence, and subsequently approved a broader recommendation, with a clinically led group to re-design an unscheduled care service for Prince Philip Hospital and the Llanelli community. The current A&E Department will be re-titled in line with NHS terminology and will deliver a doctor supported, primarily nurse delivered service within an integrated model of GPs, pharmacists and community service teams. In addition, we will maintain a 24/7 co...