Doctor shortage will stop treatment for emergency patients
EMERGENCY medical patients will not be treated in Neath Port Talbot Hospital from September because of a crisis in recruiting doctors.
It follows a decision by the Wales Deanery, which is responsible for postgraduate doctor training, to move medics from the hospital to "more suitable training environments" in August.
Health chiefs said they had to make changes to provide a safe service on the advice of senior doctors and emphasised they were not closing the hospital.
But Councillor Tony Taylor, whose Aberavon ward includes the hospital, said: "This confirms what we have been saying for the last couple of years — that it is being downgraded to a cottage hospital.
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"We want medical emergencies here, we want full A&E and we want a fully-functioning hospital."
Neath MP Peter Hain added: "I am extremely disturbed by this.
"Frankly it is simply not good enough to plead as an excuse that the recruitment of doctors is impossible — they need to go out and get them, if not in Britain then overseas."
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board said the Wales Deanery had decided to reallocate CT2 doctors — the most senior doctors responsible for the care of acutely unwell medical patients.
"Without these doctors the safety and care of acute patients is compromised to the degree that it is not safe for these patients to stay in hospital," said a spokeswoman.
"The health board moved swiftly to identify alternative ways to staff these medical posts to provide both a short and full term replacement in sufficient quality and number.
"We undertook an international recruitment campaign and also developed a new role to appoint academic research doctors to encourage more applicants.
"Unfortunately, despite these efforts, we have not been able to appoint enough doctors needed for a safe service." ABM's Changing for the Better programme is considering the future model of all its clinical services to ensure they are safe and sustainable.
The board said it would have liked to have avoided making service changes at Neath Port Talbot Hospital until the process ended in December.
"However, given the current difficulties and the need to ensure safety for patients, we need to consider making these changes at an earlier stage," said the spokeswoman.
A report on the situation at Neath Port Talbot will be presented to board members on Thursday but in the meantime it has emphasised the hospital will not close.
"It will continue to play an important role in delivering clinical services within the health board, and we will continue to develop plans to improve and extend services at the Neath Port Talbot site as part of the Changing for the Better process.
"The health board also wishes to reassure staff that there will be no job losses as a result of this change," said the spokeswoman.
paul.lewis@swwmedia.co.uk
Comments
by williamwaun
Sunday, July 01 2012, 8:28PM
“You see the state of our hospitals now in Wales, keep voting Labour into the assembly and see what happens.”
by acerloveheart
Sunday, July 01 2012, 10:55AM
“As for the comment ( "The health board also wishes to reassure staff that there will be no job losses as a result of this change," said the spokeswoman.) Four staff nurses on temp contracts are being terminated. Other staff are to be redeployed ward managers are being interveiwed in the two weeks for choice of jobs, Cimla hospital will close and rehab patients will be moved to NPT hospital. How is this going to impact on X-Ray staff, pharmcy, OT, physio. Wards C,D,E and MAU are all closing. POW cas to be down graded to LAC which means in the whole of the south wales area we will only have two casualty units, the Heath in Cardiff and Morriston Hospital”
by huwwuh
Sunday, July 01 2012, 9:32AM
“Ban private medical care.”
by Neathboy234
Saturday, June 30 2012, 9:09PM
“Obviously you wasn't very well advised when you were young, I bet you blame your parents. when did the RAF start paing a pension BTW.
Back to subject I seen Hain on the TV saying he couldn't believe there were no doctors available even after searching the world for them to work at NPT. Obviously he hasn't heard it's a global market these days. As I said in my first post with doctors pay and conditions being eroded it will become increasing difficult to recruit. This will be especially difficult in Wales where there is little private work being done, London and the SE should do better with a higher standard of living there.”
by siarad2
Saturday, June 30 2012, 8:48PM
“Neathboy234
i spent 14 years in the RAF for which I got no pension.
Then, like others, when leaving a job was paid back MY contributions ONLY no interest even.
It was illegal for companies to keep pensions for ex employees.
Be thankful you now enjoy this privilege & don't comment when you don't bother to check facts.”
by Neathboy234
Saturday, June 30 2012, 5:56PM
“apharold I was just stating a fact that doctors are in high demand through the world. If their pay and conditions are under threat, then they will move else where in the world.
Like so may others siarad2 has not prepared for his retirement, and is then envious of those who have. He obviously hasn't got the brains to be a doctor, neither have I as well. But at least I will have had the good sense to pay into a pension scheme for almost 44 years by the time I get to 60”
by apharold
Saturday, June 30 2012, 5:45PM
“siarad-neathboy---lets have some construted critism- there's enough twaddle re comments made on these blogs!!!!”
by Neathboy234
Saturday, June 30 2012, 5:44PM
“siarad2 You've not got a good pension, obviously you have not planned for your retirement. Don't look for sympathy on here mate. Obviously you must be spending too much on drink and fag's!!!”
by siarad2
Saturday, June 30 2012, 4:09PM
“Neathboy234
"pensions cut to the bone"
£88,000 a year at age 60! I'd love to have just one tenth of it”
by Neathboy234
Saturday, June 30 2012, 3:08PM
“If you think it's difficult now imagine how much worse it's going to get. With their wages being frozen and their pensions being cut to the bone our doctors will be leaving the UK in droves. And as for recruiting form the developing world, again no chance not with the pay and conditions the Tories want”