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South Wales NHS: Plan to centralise services on five sites South Wales NHS: Plan to centralise services discussed
(35 minutes later)
Health boards across south Wales are deciding on a recommendation for key services to be centralised into five hospitals, with two backing it so far. Three south Wales health boards have so far backed a recommendation for key services to be centralised into five hospitals.
Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales, Morriston Hospital in Swansea, a new hospital near Cwmbran, Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr and the Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, are the five.Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales, Morriston Hospital in Swansea, a new hospital near Cwmbran, Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr and the Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, are the five.
Services include A&E, specialist care for mothers, babies and children.Services include A&E, specialist care for mothers, babies and children.
But the Royal Glamorgan in Llantrisant would see some services downgraded.But the Royal Glamorgan in Llantrisant would see some services downgraded.
The future for the Royal Glamorgan would see it become a "beacon site" for developing a new model of acute medicine for people with chronic illnesses.The future for the Royal Glamorgan would see it become a "beacon site" for developing a new model of acute medicine for people with chronic illnesses.
The proposed changes come amid concerns that services across eight hospitals are currently spread too thinly. However, managers insist no individual A&E department would close.The proposed changes come amid concerns that services across eight hospitals are currently spread too thinly. However, managers insist no individual A&E department would close.
There are also concerns that professional standards of care are not being met, junior doctors do not get the training they need and senior doctors do not get to see enough patients.There are also concerns that professional standards of care are not being met, junior doctors do not get the training they need and senior doctors do not get to see enough patients.
The recommendation needs to be accepted by the five south Wales health boards who are meeting on Thursday.The recommendation needs to be accepted by the five south Wales health boards who are meeting on Thursday.
Cardiff and Vale along with Powys are the first to approve the recommendations. Cardiff and Vale, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg and Powys health boards have so far approved the recommendation.
Cwm Taf and Aneurin Bevan along with the Welsh Ambulance Service are still discussing it.
61,000 responses61,000 responses
Any final decision will be scrutinised by five Community Health Councils (CHCs) at a later date.Any final decision will be scrutinised by five Community Health Councils (CHCs) at a later date.
Since the start of 2012, senior managers and medical professionals from five health boards - Abertawe Bro Morgannwg, Cwm Taf, Cardiff and Vale, Aneurin Bevan, Powys and the Welsh Ambulance Service - have been working together in the South Wales Programme (SWP) to develop proposals involving hospitals from Swansea to Newport.Since the start of 2012, senior managers and medical professionals from five health boards - Abertawe Bro Morgannwg, Cwm Taf, Cardiff and Vale, Aneurin Bevan, Powys and the Welsh Ambulance Service - have been working together in the South Wales Programme (SWP) to develop proposals involving hospitals from Swansea to Newport.
The issue has been the subject of much debate.The issue has been the subject of much debate.
Paul Hollard, programme director for the SWP said: "We have spent the last six months analysing in detail what the public, patients and healthcare professionals have told us.Paul Hollard, programme director for the SWP said: "We have spent the last six months analysing in detail what the public, patients and healthcare professionals have told us.
"There was a huge contribution to the consultation with more than 61,000 responses and we learned a lot during that process."There was a huge contribution to the consultation with more than 61,000 responses and we learned a lot during that process.
"It is clear patients and the public want to maintain as many local services as possible, but not at the expense of clinical quality."It is clear patients and the public want to maintain as many local services as possible, but not at the expense of clinical quality.
"However, we also know that the way some services are currently organised makes it very difficult for us to consistently meet the standards of care our patients deserve."However, we also know that the way some services are currently organised makes it very difficult for us to consistently meet the standards of care our patients deserve.
"We believe that to be able to meet these standards, these specialist services - consultant-led maternity and neonatal care, inpatient children's services and emergency medicine - should be centralised in five centres as a starting point towards the development of the three acute care alliances."We believe that to be able to meet these standards, these specialist services - consultant-led maternity and neonatal care, inpatient children's services and emergency medicine - should be centralised in five centres as a starting point towards the development of the three acute care alliances.
Sharing expertiseSharing expertise
"This is the best way to ensure all patients get the care they need, when they need it and that it is delivered by highly-trained and experienced staff.""This is the best way to ensure all patients get the care they need, when they need it and that it is delivered by highly-trained and experienced staff."
Care alliances would would be set up alongside the five sites and would see clinicians from different hospitals working together across health board boundaries to provide care for patients.Care alliances would would be set up alongside the five sites and would see clinicians from different hospitals working together across health board boundaries to provide care for patients.
They would share information, skills and expertise and the alliances would decide which work goes where.They would share information, skills and expertise and the alliances would decide which work goes where.
That includes being involved with the centralising of services like consultant-led maternity and neonatal care, along with inpatient children's services and A&E.That includes being involved with the centralising of services like consultant-led maternity and neonatal care, along with inpatient children's services and A&E.
The alliances would also ensure patients continue to have access to local assessment, care, treatment and follow-ups.The alliances would also ensure patients continue to have access to local assessment, care, treatment and follow-ups.
But there may be occasions - as happens now - when some patients with complex conditions need to travel to a specialist centre.But there may be occasions - as happens now - when some patients with complex conditions need to travel to a specialist centre.
However, if an alliance was to propose any changes, it would have to go out to consultation.However, if an alliance was to propose any changes, it would have to go out to consultation.
Mr Hollard added: "It has become increasingly evident the traditional way of working, in which hospitals work in isolation, is not sustainable.Mr Hollard added: "It has become increasingly evident the traditional way of working, in which hospitals work in isolation, is not sustainable.
"We need to be innovative and make ambitious changes to deliver high-class care to people as locally as possible."We need to be innovative and make ambitious changes to deliver high-class care to people as locally as possible.
"These acute care alliances will form the back bone of our long-term plans to ensure this can happen.""These acute care alliances will form the back bone of our long-term plans to ensure this can happen."