Chiefs plan for influx of patients
QUESTIONS over how Swansea hospitals will cope with an influx of patients from Neath Port Talbot will be answered later this month.
Around 9,000 people a year use the acute medical service at Neath Port Talbot Hospital, which will close in September following a well-publicised struggle to find enough doctors to run it.
Health chiefs have admitted they face a challenge making sure Singleton, Morriston and Bridgend's Princess of Wales Hospital can cope.
ABM has set up a planning group comprising senior clinicians and managers and representatives of Neath Port Talbot Council, the Community Health Council and the ambulance service.
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It is looking at transport for patients, visitors and staff, along with the impact on A&E departments, assessment units and clinical support services.
ABM chief operating officer Alex Howells said: "One of the things we have to take into account is the current flow of patients and how that will be affected.
"The 9,000 people who turn up at the door of Neath Port Talbot Hospital needing treatment will go to one of our other sites. We are working through what that will mean in terms of numbers, where patients live and our capacity to accommodate them."
Mrs Howells added: "By the end of July we will have a detailed idea of what it will mean for patients and staff and transport, and all the other circumstances around it."
ABM says that, of the 9,000 acute medical patients attending Neath Port Talbot annually, only half are admitted as inpatients — and around 1,500 of them are discharged within 24 hours.
Of those that need to be admitted, 64 per cent already go to one of the three hospitals in Swansea and Bridgend.
ABM board member Professor Michael Williams said: "I am concerned that Morriston might not be able to cope with the numbers coming in.
"Morriston is over-used. It's doing a fantastic job but a lot of people go there."
Mrs Howells said: "We are working through the detail about what it might mean for Morriston and Singleton and Princess of Wales.
"We are looking at issues about how people get there, the impact on A&E and assessment units, as well as the impact on inpatient capacity and whether they go back to Neath Port Talbot Hospital or straight home from those sites.
"We need to look at how we support those sites. Sometimes that will be about people and sometimes it will be about physical capacity.
"We do have clinical support for this. We are doing this because clinicians are telling us we have to. We can make sure we have a great deal of clinical leadership and engagement."
paul.lewis@swwmedia.co.uk
Comments
by Dai_Chotomy
Friday, July 06 2012, 4:03PM
“There is nothing to worry about. Gwenda Thomas AM has said that her constituents will be cared for properly. If she doesn't care that Neath Port-Talbot hospital will soon become a clinic why should the rest of the Assembly?”
by taffydaffy
Friday, July 06 2012, 1:38PM
“When my husband was taken to Morriston hospital with Heart & Kidney failure they did a fantastic job and saved his life many times he was in for nearly 2 months I could not drive so had to rely on a Taxi it cost £ 25.00 each way from Port Talbot to Morriston 2 years ago this was twice a day in the end it was cheaper to stay in a local hotel then you have to buy your food and drinks My family went through over £1,000 while my husband was in hospital I am still paying off the debt there is no help for familys visiting from other areas you can't even get a tea or coffee so how are the people from Neath & Port Talbot going to manage”
by jampy3
Friday, July 06 2012, 11:37AM
“This is an easy one,,,
First refuse to treat them, then Pay for them to be treated at the Spire hospital cardiff (private) like they did to me.
The last operation earlier this year has cost ABMU £10,800 and £43 every time I go to cardiff . I have just received a cheque from ABMU for £172 travelling expenses, and this morning sent off the next claim for £129. this is separate from the £500 received for expenses. ASK CHEIF EXEC ROBERTS if I'm telling the truth.”