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| Hywel Dda Health Board plan to cancel elective orthopaedic surgery | Hywel Dda Health Board plan to cancel elective orthopaedic surgery |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Health chiefs plan to cancel all non-urgent orthopaedic surgery at four general hospitals in mid and west Wales over the winter. | Health chiefs plan to cancel all non-urgent orthopaedic surgery at four general hospitals in mid and west Wales over the winter. |
| Hywel Dda Health Board said it would not carry out elective operations like hip and knee replacements to deal with increased pressure on services. | Hywel Dda Health Board said it would not carry out elective operations like hip and knee replacements to deal with increased pressure on services. |
| Hospitals in Carmarthen, Haverfordwest, Llanelli and Aberystwyth are affected. | Hospitals in Carmarthen, Haverfordwest, Llanelli and Aberystwyth are affected. |
| The health service union Unison criticised the move saying it would result in longer delays for patients. | The health service union Unison criticised the move saying it would result in longer delays for patients. |
| The health board said if the plans were backed it would review its proposals at the West Wales General, Withybush, Prince Philip, Llanelli and Bronglais, Aberystwyth hospitals "towards the end of the winter surge". | |
| But Unison claims non-urgent orthopaedic surgery will be cancelled until April 2014. | |
| Dr Phil Kloer, director of clinical services at Hywel Dda, said: "In past years, there have been too many operations cancelled at the last minute due to emergency admissions. | Dr Phil Kloer, director of clinical services at Hywel Dda, said: "In past years, there have been too many operations cancelled at the last minute due to emergency admissions. |
| "In previous winters, we had up to 160 additional beds in place often being managed by temporary staff. This is not a position we can sustain this year." | "In previous winters, we had up to 160 additional beds in place often being managed by temporary staff. This is not a position we can sustain this year." |
| "To address this, we propose to manage our bed stock and elective surgical lists in a better way during the busiest months this winter to ensure we have the staff capacity to manage emergencies and the most urgent patients. | "To address this, we propose to manage our bed stock and elective surgical lists in a better way during the busiest months this winter to ensure we have the staff capacity to manage emergencies and the most urgent patients. |
| "We would like to reassure patients that if they have an urgent clinical need they will be seen. Emergency and cancer procedures, the vast majority of orthopaedic day surgery and other elective procedures will also continue." | "We would like to reassure patients that if they have an urgent clinical need they will be seen. Emergency and cancer procedures, the vast majority of orthopaedic day surgery and other elective procedures will also continue." |
| The trade union Unison has reacted angrily to the decision. | The trade union Unison has reacted angrily to the decision. |
| 'Distress' | 'Distress' |
| Branch chairwoman Wendy Evans said: "The health board already has a waiting time of 15 months for patients awaiting orthopaedic surgery. | Branch chairwoman Wendy Evans said: "The health board already has a waiting time of 15 months for patients awaiting orthopaedic surgery. |
| "This will clearly add at least another five to six months to their waiting time, causing further distress and possibly further complications to their condition." | "This will clearly add at least another five to six months to their waiting time, causing further distress and possibly further complications to their condition." |
| But Dr Sue Fish, the health board's medical director, said the proposals would help ensure services were safer for patients over the winter. | But Dr Sue Fish, the health board's medical director, said the proposals would help ensure services were safer for patients over the winter. |
| "Affected staff are being consulted with and we intend to monitor the situation closely and review our position towards the end of the winter surge," she added. | "Affected staff are being consulted with and we intend to monitor the situation closely and review our position towards the end of the winter surge," she added. |
| William Powell, Lib Dem AM for mid and west Wales, said he had asked Health Minister Mark Drakeford an urgent question about the issue and it would be answered in the Senedd on Tuesday. | |
| "Many patients in mid and west Wales have already been forced to wait around 15 months until the start of their treatment," Mr Powell said. | |
| "It is shocking that many of these people may now have their surgery delayed further by five or six months. We need to be told how long these delays will actually be." | |
| Last week Hywel Dda said it was postponing some operations at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth for up to a month because of staff shortages. | Last week Hywel Dda said it was postponing some operations at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth for up to a month because of staff shortages. |
| The board said it was also cutting six beds on a general surgery ward because of the shortages. | The board said it was also cutting six beds on a general surgery ward because of the shortages. |
| Last January non-emergency operations were cancelled in north and south Wales due to a seasonal rise in winter illnesses putting pressure on NHS hospitals. | Last January non-emergency operations were cancelled in north and south Wales due to a seasonal rise in winter illnesses putting pressure on NHS hospitals. |