ABMU to consider ending emergency medical admissions at Singleton Hospital
HEALTH chiefs are to review the future of emergency medical admissions at Single- ton Hospital.
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board is looking at the possibility of axing unscheduled admissions as part of its ongoing Changing For The Better (C4B) programme.
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Singleton Hospital
Talks will take place with health watchdogs once any proposals are finalised, to decide if consultation is needed.
ABMU says there is clear clinical consensus for having a centralised service in the Swansea area (at Morriston), for safety and sustainability reasons.
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Potential changes to hospital services in the ABMU area were set out in the original C4B document published last year.
One service the board said needed to be looked at in more detail was Singleton's acute medical services for patients referred by their GPs as emergencies, not including strokes and heart attacks.
It said: "Depending on the future pattern of unscheduled care services, we need to decide if we can continue this service in the future, bearing in mind the difficulties we have recruiting doctors and the requirements of quality standards.
"We are doing more work to understand how a redesigned clinical service could work effectively and safely for the future."
Watchdogs on ABM Comm- unity Health Council's executive committee have met to consider the C4B proposals.
CHC chief officer Phil Williams has told ABMU the committee noted the plans to review unscheduled (acute) medical admissions to Singleton.
"It also notes there is a clear clinical consensus that the health board should only have one hospital accepting acute medical admissions in the Swansea area for safety and sustainability in the future," said Mr Williams.
"However, the committee accepts that the implications of any change need to be carefully thought through and it looks forward to engaging with (ABMU) in the development of plans and new service models as the work progresses.
"Subject to the outcome of this process, the CHC will consider the engagement and consultation requirements."
Acute medicine was withdrawn from Neath Port Talbot Hospital last year, but without consultation as it was classed as an emergency service change owing to a shortage of suitable doctors.
The CHC has already decided there is no need for consultation on some C4B proposals.
These include the transfer of Singleton's obstetrics service (childbirth and the treatment of women before and after birth) and neonatal (newborn babies) intensive care to Morriston.
But it has required consultation on the possible closure of Pontardawe's Gellinudd Hospital and the transfer of the last remaining ward at Cimla Hospital to Neath Port Talbot.
3 Comments
by ABM_Health
Friday, March 08 2013, 1:11PM
“We are well aware that not all our services are operating as they should be, completely agree that it's unacceptable, and apologise profusely for the inconvenience and stress this causes patients who suffer from delays. But the reality is there's no magic wand to put things right. The shortage of doctors which caused the Acute Medicine service to go from Neath Port Talbot Hospital is causing similar pressures in many other hospitals too, not only in the ABMU area.
We need to look at the Acute Medicine service in Singleton to see if we can continue to run it there, or whether a safer and more reliable way to treat people who need acute medical care would be to have it in one place, so the team of doctors who can treat them are under one roof.This many not be a popular option, but it's one we have to consider.”
by ladymaise
Thursday, March 07 2013, 4:03PM
“What a load of old cobblers.
The people of West Glamorgan should demand the best care available. The numptys in charge of ABUM reorganisation should be made to wait 24 hours in A&E then sleep on a trolley for three days in CDU only to be sent home and then get readmitted the next day and start the journey yet again.
Then and only then should they be able to make judgement on what is best patient care.
RIP Singleton you will be an OPD hospital soon.
Before ABUM spokeswoman replies I have had this experience twice in the past year , it is not nice trust me.
I hope you never have the same experience as me or anyone of your family.
Old Mr Bevan what would you think of your vision of the NHS”
by williamwaun
Thursday, March 07 2013, 10:20AM
“Disgusting news, when will it stop. Morriston A&E can't cope now god help us. What are we paying taxes and NI for. Welsh Labour should be ashamed of themselves.”