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Mark Drakeford meets Withybush Hospital baby unit plan opponents | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Hundreds of campaigners opposing changes to specialist baby care in west Wales have protested at the assembly. | |
The plans would mean Withybush Hospital's special care baby unit in Haverfordwest would close. | |
Hywel Dda health board and the Welsh government have said the changes would provide a better level of care. | |
Campaigner Chris Overton said Health Minister Mark Drakeford refused to see him. Mr Drakeford met other protestors and said he was "happy" to do so. | |
Dr Overton, chair of the Save Withybush Action Team (SWAT) and a consultant obstetrician at Withybush, said on Facebook: "Minister refused to see me today. No reason given." | |
However, Mr Drakeford posted on twitter "I was happy to meet campaigners from Pembrokeshire this morning as arranged - I hope they found the meeting useful." | |
Last month, about 1,000 people marched in protest at the controversial plans. | Last month, about 1,000 people marched in protest at the controversial plans. |
Under the proposed new system, doctors in Carmarthen will provide specialist care, with other hospitals eventually providing a midwife-led service. | Under the proposed new system, doctors in Carmarthen will provide specialist care, with other hospitals eventually providing a midwife-led service. |
Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, will become a midwife-led maternity unit, although during the transition period it will also retain some consultants. | Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, will become a midwife-led maternity unit, although during the transition period it will also retain some consultants. |
The plans were initially revealed a year ago by the health board, but were vetoed by the local patients watchdog over concerns that closing the special care baby unit in Haverfordwest could put lives at risk. | The plans were initially revealed a year ago by the health board, but were vetoed by the local patients watchdog over concerns that closing the special care baby unit in Haverfordwest could put lives at risk. |
It meant Mr Drakeford stepped in to review the decision himself, and took advice from a panel of experts. | |
The advisory panel indicated providing special baby care units across the health board was "neither safe nor sustainable". | The advisory panel indicated providing special baby care units across the health board was "neither safe nor sustainable". |
On Wednesday, Mark Drakeford had agreed to meet a small delegation, which was to include AMs, Joyce Watson and Rebecca Evans. | |
Ms Evans said it was a chance for the minister to "address the concerns in detail". | Ms Evans said it was a chance for the minister to "address the concerns in detail". |
Ms Watson added: "The minister has confirmed that, while the midwife-led unit is being set up at Withybush, there will be consultant obstetric cover to support midwives. | Ms Watson added: "The minister has confirmed that, while the midwife-led unit is being set up at Withybush, there will be consultant obstetric cover to support midwives. |
"However, it is critical that all services in place after this initial establishing phase are built around the safety of mothers and babies." | "However, it is critical that all services in place after this initial establishing phase are built around the safety of mothers and babies." |
Dr Overton recently wrote to Mr Drakeford and received a reply from Wales' chief medical officer, Dr Ruth Hussey. | |
'Rights of the child' | 'Rights of the child' |
In it, she wrote: "The service changes being implemented actively promote the rights of the child by increasing the likelihood of survival and long term wellbeing for sick and premature babies needing intensive care. | In it, she wrote: "The service changes being implemented actively promote the rights of the child by increasing the likelihood of survival and long term wellbeing for sick and premature babies needing intensive care. |
"This will be achieved through the increased compliance with British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) standards that the reconfigured service will provide." | "This will be achieved through the increased compliance with British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) standards that the reconfigured service will provide." |
In a reply to Dr Hussey, Dr Overton wrote: "As a doctor it is my duty to raise concerns when potential patients are being put in danger. I will continue to do so with my last breath." | In a reply to Dr Hussey, Dr Overton wrote: "As a doctor it is my duty to raise concerns when potential patients are being put in danger. I will continue to do so with my last breath." |
In another email, he asked: "How is it safer for a child with epiglottitis or a severe asthma attack to have to travel 45 minutes further in an emergency? | In another email, he asked: "How is it safer for a child with epiglottitis or a severe asthma attack to have to travel 45 minutes further in an emergency? |
"How is it safer for a heavily pregnant woman bleeding to death as recently reported in the papers to have to travel 45 minutes further in an emergency?" | "How is it safer for a heavily pregnant woman bleeding to death as recently reported in the papers to have to travel 45 minutes further in an emergency?" |
He has branded the plans a "very foolish mistake" which will cost lives. | He has branded the plans a "very foolish mistake" which will cost lives. |
The Welsh government said: "The advice of the expert panel on the future of neonatal services in Hywel Dda was clear: attempting to continue to provide neonatal specialist services across all Hywel Dda hospitals is neither safe nor sustainable. | The Welsh government said: "The advice of the expert panel on the future of neonatal services in Hywel Dda was clear: attempting to continue to provide neonatal specialist services across all Hywel Dda hospitals is neither safe nor sustainable. |
"The minister accepted the panel's advice to develop a modern Level 2 Neonatal Unit at Glangwili Hospital, which will serve the population of Pembrokeshire in a way which will allow clinicians to maintain their expertise and so provide the best possible service for mothers and their babies." | "The minister accepted the panel's advice to develop a modern Level 2 Neonatal Unit at Glangwili Hospital, which will serve the population of Pembrokeshire in a way which will allow clinicians to maintain their expertise and so provide the best possible service for mothers and their babies." |