PARAMEDICS decide which accident and emergency department they will take patients to, a health chief has assured a watchdog.

Hywel Dda Health Board chairman Chris Martin gave that message to Carmarthenshire Community Health Council when they quizzed him over claims hospitals were bypassing Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli.

They feared that could be creating "massaged" figures to justify the health board's proposal to close the hospital's accident and emergency unit.

But Mr Martin said: "It's about the clinical need of the patient.

"It's a decision making process made by the paramedic on the ambulance."

Information uncovered by Llanelli AM Keith Davies had prompted fears ambulances were instructed not to deliver patients to Prince Philip.

The figures show 3,709 people were taken to Prince Philip Hospital in the 12 months to November, while 2,684 people from the SA14, SA15 and SA16 postcodes were taken to Glangwili hospital in Carmarthen and 1,180 were taken to Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

Health council member Tony Wales told Mr Martin: "Considerable concerns have been expressed in the Llanelli area about whether there was a directive that had been issued from the health board to the ambulance trust."

But Mr Martin said there was a protocol in place with the ambulance service that they took them to the most appropriate place for the patient.

Mr Martin has advised Mr Davies the emergency department at Prince Philip can only treat minor injuries and illnesses in adults and children, plus medical emergencies such as cardiac arrest and stroke.

Conditions

It cannot provide emergency care for surgical emergencies, trauma, children, head injuries, maternity, gynaecology, or conditions involving the ear, nose, throat or eye.

Concern over what accident and emergency services were actually available at the hospital, prompted health council member Dr Chris Slader to suggest road signs around Llanelli directing people to A&E were inaccurate.

He added: "If it's [the department's] going to be upgraded we would all applaud, but at the moment the signage is not clear and it could be open to legal problems on having incorrect signs around the town."

Peter Walton, deputy general manager acute services, said the health board had not made any changes to the status of the emergency department since 2004.

david.price@swwmedia.co.uk