This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-26159249

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
South Wales NHS: Cwm Taf health board rejects shake-up recommendation South Wales NHS: Cwm Taf health board rejects shake-up recommendation
(35 minutes later)
Plans to centralise key services into five south Wales hospitals face uncertainty after a key recommendation for it was rejected by a health board. Plans to centralise vital services into five south Wales hospitals face uncertainty after a key recommendation for it was rejected by a health board.
Cwm Taf went against the proposals relating to A&E, specialist care for mothers, newborn babies and children.Cwm Taf went against the proposals relating to A&E, specialist care for mothers, newborn babies and children.
It is because the Royal Glamorgan hospital in Llantrisant, which comes under Cwm Taf, would see some services moved under the plans.It is because the Royal Glamorgan hospital in Llantrisant, which comes under Cwm Taf, would see some services moved under the plans.
The other four health boards backed the recommendation.The other four health boards backed the recommendation.
Since the start of 2012, senior managers and medical professionals from the five health boards and the Welsh Ambulance Service have been working together in the South Wales Programme (SWP) to develop proposals for hospitals from Swansea to Newport.
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.
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 hospitals where services would be centralised.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 hospitals where services would be centralised.
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.
But the recommendation needed to be accepted by the five south Wales health boards who met on Thursday. But the recommendation needed to be accepted by the five south Wales health boards and the ambulance service who met on Thursday.
Cardiff and Vale, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg (ABM), Aneurin Bevan and Powys health boards all approved the recommendation. Cardiff and Vale, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg (ABM), Aneurin Bevan and Powys health boards all approved the proposal.
A spokesperson for ABM said: "Working together in this way will help to support key services, making them stronger and more sustainable."A spokesperson for ABM said: "Working together in this way will help to support key services, making them stronger and more sustainable."
61,000 responses61,000 responses
An Aneurin Bevan spokesperson added: "We fully recognise the seriousness of the issues highlighted in the case for change."An Aneurin Bevan spokesperson added: "We fully recognise the seriousness of the issues highlighted in the case for change."
However, Cwm Taf has proposed an alternative model which has led to confusion over whether the reorganisation plan will be accepted.However, Cwm Taf has proposed an alternative model which has led to confusion over whether the reorganisation plan will be accepted.
It backed the majority of the proposals put forward but instead of moving services from the Royal Glamorgan, it proposed an alternative model which would see the Royal Glamorgan and Princess of Wales (which comes under ABM health board) sharing services as a "starting point" to centralising units. It backed the most of the proposals, but instead of moving services from the Royal Glamorgan, it proposed an alternative which would see the Royal Glamorgan and Princess of Wales (which comes under ABM health board) sharing services as a "starting point" to centralising units.
In a joint statement, Cwm Taf chairman Dr Chris Jones and chief executive Allison Williams said: "Providing integrated services from these two hospitals will preserve services in as many centres as possible - and local access for local communities."In a joint statement, Cwm Taf chairman Dr Chris Jones and chief executive Allison Williams said: "Providing integrated services from these two hospitals will preserve services in as many centres as possible - and local access for local communities."
Talks will take place to find a solution. Talks will take place next week to find a solution.
If one be found, a final decision will be scrutinised by five Community Health Councils (CHCs) at a later date. Should they not be happy, the matter will be referred to the Welsh government. Paul Hollard, programme director for the SWP said: "We will work together to discuss these and consider the next steps so that the South Wales Programme work can proceed with minimum delay.
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. Huge contribution
"It is vital that we get this right to ensure the best healthcare possible for the people of south Wales and south Powys."
If a solution can be found, a final decision will be scrutinised by five Community Health Councils (CHCs) at a later date. Should they not be happy, the matter will be referred to the Welsh government.
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. Mr Hollard said the last six months has been spent analysing the views of the public, patients and healthcare professionals.
"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," he added.
"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."