Neath Port Talbot Hospital's acute service removal 'a change too far for staff'
A VETERAN health worker and campaigner has slammed the loss of acute medical services at Neath Port Talbot Hospital as a change too far for staff and a no-win situation for residents.
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board non-officer member Sandra Miller said the hospital, and Neath General Hospital before it, had been systematically run down year after year and would now become a five-day-a-week hospital.
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Sandra Miller
Mrs Miller, a unionist, hospital worker and Neath Port Talbot councillor, was speaking as ABM board members agreed to urgency action to end the emergency medical service at Neath Port Talbot Hospital effective from September.
Board chief executive Paul Roberts said the intention had been to include it in the ABM-wide review of long-term future services called Changing For The Better.
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"But the circumstances mean we have to bring this proposal here today as an urgent change," he said.
"We have had strong advice from senior doctors that it would be unsafe to continue this service much beyond the beginning of August.
"I'm sure board members will agree that safety has to be our top concern and if that advice has been received and has been tested, then that is advice we have to listen to."
Chief operating officer Alex Howells said: "Medical staffing issues aren't specific to this service and this site. We are seeing a number of these issues affecting a number of our services across a number of our sites."
Mrs Howells described at length ABM's search to find suitable doctors to maintain the Neath Port Talbot service.
That followed a decision by the Wales Deanery (responsible for postgraduate doctor training) to move CT2 doctors, which ran the acute medical service, to other hospitals more suitable for training.
The search, which included a recruitment visit to Dubai, ultimately failed to find sufficient suitable doctors. In fact, said Mrs Howells, only five were available when the minimum needed was eight and the recommended number was 10-12.
"The decision had to be made about whether having five out of the minimum eight we needed to run a really important service was something we felt was sustainable and safe," she said.
"I felt I had to advise the chief executive that we had really exhausted all our options we had set out to consider. We really didn't have anywhere else to go and needed to make this urgent service change."
Mrs Miller, though, said: "Neath Port Talbot Hospital and Neath General Hospital have been systematically run down over the years. That has impacted on the people and on the staff as well."
She said the services being introduced there were only those that were taken away years ago, and Neath Port Talbot would now become a five-day-a-week hospital.
"I see no pluses," added Mrs Miller. She also had concerns about whether the ambulance service could cope with taking more people to other hospitals, and the availability of public transport.
"It's a no-win for the people of Neath Port Talbot," she said. "Staff have been used to change. They've coped with it. But this is going to be a change too far for them."
paul.lewis@swwmedia.co.uk
Comments
by Petert53
Sunday, July 08 2012, 6:03PM
“A trip to Dubai to try to recruit doctors. Only the cynical would think of it as a nice jolly to the sun, accompanied by a stay in a very nice hotel.
No news about the LHB taking a trip to France, or Germany, or Sweden. Where many people speak English well enough for any likely recruits to be able to pass the language test for employment as a doctor in the UK. Indeed, doctors from most of the EU are free to work in the UK without having to apply for work permits etc.
Now, does anyone know why the LHB seems to have failed to try and source staff from the EU - possibly something to do with the weather and lack of glamour about a trip to, say, wet and wind Stockholm?”
by Walesforever
Friday, July 06 2012, 11:38PM
“Dear God, it's so depressing, everything around us is either closed, closing, or under consderation of closing. What we have is sub-standard, and what we are fed is waffle and ****, that all this is change for the better.
The old Neath hospital is bulldozed for a new and better hospital. ****. The old Gwyn Hall is rebuilt as a new and improved " theatre". ****. The old Afan Lido is going to be rebuilt as a new and improved leisure centre. ****. The NPTCBC is ****, and there is no-one to blame, but the inept and sorry folk who voted Labour, and the even more sorry and inept folk who couldn't be bothered to get off their **** and vote. Always the same, no good shouting now folks. We are a Labour stronghold, isn't it great !”
by sochat
Friday, July 06 2012, 6:50PM
“Sandra Miller unionist liebor councillor,what has she done about it these past years nothing she has done what she is told by her political masters.”
by dorothyjones
Friday, July 06 2012, 4:41PM
“If the Wales Deanery reverted their decision to move the CT2 Doctors training back to Neath Port Talbot Hospital then trainee doctors would want to come. Problem solved.”
by jampy3
Friday, July 06 2012, 11:23AM
“As regares to the article, It appears to be a done deal and will probably go ahead regardless of any concerns raised, although there may be a token jesture of a meeting to discuss..???
Should we trust messers ROBERTS and HOWELLS ?
Although my case refers to a different matter it's still the same players OOOPS! spokesperson involved.
In my case the letter I received from Alex Howells on 26 APRIL 2012 as an explanation was entirly different to the letter of explanation sent to MIKE HEDGES Assembly Member on the 3rd May 2012 who raised questions on my behalf. Just total whitewash by ABMU. Chief exec Roberts is all to aware.
I realise some of the readers may raise an eyebrow at my comment even think I am sailing close to the wind, or want more info. If This Is South Wales allows me to post i will do so. But the fact I have provided names with Dates suggests my comment can be verified.
The last time my comment was removed, This time I will be surprised if the Evening post don't ask to do an article.”
by apharold
Friday, July 06 2012, 11:14AM
“what the hell do you go to Dubai looking for Dr's other than being a freebe for whoever went, anyhow what dr in his right mind would forgo the sunshine and warmth for this waterlogged country even if we love it?”
by sochat
Friday, July 06 2012, 9:22AM
“Health and safety excuses have become the norm for cuts and closures with this liebor lot,Briton ferry health centre has been unsafe for the past ten years yet it is still operating.There is little hope left for Wales,my advice to any young person whom HAS received a decent education is to cross the border to England.”