Edwina Hart defends brain surgery hospital decision
HEALTH Minister Edwina Hart today defended a decision to centralise brain surgery for patients from mid and South Wales in Cardiff.
During heated exchanges in the Senedd, she said she had followed the advice of clinical experts about what was best for patient safety.
A report on NHS neurosurgery last month said all emergency and intra-cranial work should be carried out at the capital's University Hospital of Wales (UHW).
Non-complex spinal surgery, outpatient and day-case neurosurgery will continue at the UHW and Morriston Hospital in Swansea.
The shake-up was supposed to draw a line under a long-running and often bitter row about neuroscience services which are under pressure from a shortage of specialist doctors.
At health questions, Liberal Democrat spokesman Peter Black accused the minister of "abandoning" emergency neurosurgery at Morriston.
Tory AM Alun Cairns said: "I well remember before the last Assembly elections the minister was unequivocal when she was in a previous post that emergency service in Swansea should not move because of the vital two-hour travelling time in order to access emergency neurosurgery care in Swansea.
"That's what the minister said before the election and we are now receiving a completely different response in terms of what we are receiving after the election."
Mrs Hart accused him of "pure mischief-making", saying: "I am sorry that you feel unable to accept the recommendation of all the clinicians within the area about what is necessary in terms of the safety of services.
"At the end of the day, what we wanted to do was to maintain services in Swansea and Cardiff.
"The only issue that has gone to Cardiff is the continuation of complex intra-cranial neurosurgery."
Complex and emergency neurosurgery was transferred from Swansea to Cardiff in July because of a shortage of doctors – an arrangement now being made permanent.
Mrs Hart added that a "wave" of other services would return to Morriston, on the doorstep of her Gower constituency.
"At the end of the day, this is about patient safety," she said.
"The neurosurgeons have told me that I can't compromise on any of these issues, that we have got to have the right staffing in place and we have got to do the right thing."
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by David, Swansea Vale
Thursday, November 05 2009, 5:16PM
“The bottom line is simple! The longer it takes to arrive at a specialised neurosurgical facility the worst the prognosis can be for the patient(s) concerned. The chances of death and permanent disability can increase dramatically. So because that¿s the case as a kind gesture of recompense to the people of South West Wales/affected regions can the Welsh Assembly government please pull the plug on its multi-million pound subsidization of the Cardiff Bay white elephant that is the Wales Millennium Centre. Can there possibly be a relocation of money to fund South West Wales air ambulance, ambulance, patient support services, patient and family neurosurgical sleep-over/stay facilities etc.
I think the wrongly accused ¿parochial¿ people of Swansea are more than willing to make a sacrifice so to see a strategic shift away from the ongoing and costly financial prioritisation of folk dancing, mime and contemporary dance etc onto other issues.”
by James Sheridan, Swansea
Thursday, November 05 2009, 3:51PM
“Re:Dai, Swansea
I was trying to be kind to you over the 'Dormant Brain' jibe, but as you are probably the world's first Brain Transplant Donor (Reject), my own kindness I have misjudged in your case, so I apologise for such an inappropriate useage!”
by James Sheridan, Swansea
Thursday, November 05 2009, 3:44PM
“Re: Paul, West Cross
I thought my postings would 're-activate', Paul from West Cross, including the slight spelling mistake! Vesuvius is so dangerous, that the last major eruption was in 1944 (it is actually considered to have been quiescent since then) and people are allowed on it (there is a walkway)!
The current inactivity is the longest in nearly 500 years. Vesuvius is not thought likely to erupt in the immediate future.
With reference to 'Dai the Fly' from Swansea and Numpty Spotter from Swansea, I have only responded in kind to them, unless you continue to consider, that only your own self determined version of freedom of expression, is worthy of inclusion on this webpage!?”
by Paul, West Cross
Thursday, November 05 2009, 3:00PM
“I'm sure that readers would be interested in getting a response from Alan Cairns AM to my question posted on 4 Nov 2009 at 19:18.
The personal slanging match between James Sheridan, Numpty Spotter and Dai of Swansea is distracting and serves no purpose other than perhaps showing Mr Sheridan's lack of knowledge about volcanoes.
fyi: Mount Vesuvius (note correct spelling) has erupted many times since 79AD and is today regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world.”
by Dai, Swansea
Thursday, November 05 2009, 2:22PM
“RE - James Sheridan.
Even a "DORMANT BRAIN" is better than NO BRAIN and thats what you got you "no brainer".”
by James Sheridan, Swansea
Thursday, November 05 2009, 1:55PM
“Re;Dai, Swansea
At least you won't be using the soon to be centralised brain surgery unit in Cardiff, as your Brain has been dormant longer than Vesuvious!”
by James Sheridan, Swansea
Thursday, November 05 2009, 1:44PM
“Re;Numpty Spotter, Swansea
The '2 hours to get to Cardiff ', referral in my earlier posting came from the Alun Cairns's quotation in paragraph 7 of the above article, Numpty! I also have to agree with David from Swansea Vale's comments to you! You only have to read Niki Perkins from Swansea Heart wrenching posting, to fully understand that the trauma Patients and their families go through.”
by jacko, ssea
Thursday, November 05 2009, 1:17PM
“the agenda has always been to build up cardiff so all these politicians, media, authorities, trusts, bodies and quangos can all live off the back of the cardiff gravy train.”
by Roger, Brynmill
Thursday, November 05 2009, 1:02PM
“My mother was rushed into morriston hospital on monday night after suffering a seizure at home, she then suffered a further two seizures in the hospital, one just after getting there. If we had to go to Cardiff then she would have had them in the back of the ambulance, how on earth can you say that someone living 15 mins from morriston hospital would be better served by going to Cardiff is beyond me.”
by Dai, Swansea
Thursday, November 05 2009, 9:07AM
“More bull---- from James Sheridan - typical comments from a two-faced Lib-Dem.
He says that Mrs Hart has failed to listen to those who elected her - well before you call others look at your own party that are running Swansea they are the "masters" of ignoring the opinons of Swansea residents.
For example - the slip bridge, IT computer system, bendy bus, school closures, transfer of council housing the list is endless.
So go away little man no-one is interested in what you have to say.”