FURY AT SURGERY U-TURN
MP blasts Betsi plans
HEALTH chiefs will centralise emergency vascular surgery at one North Wales hospital less than a year after saying there would be no change in provision.
The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board had committed to keeping emergency and inpatient treatment at Bangor, Wrexham and Bodelwyddan in February after 3,000 signed an online petition and the issue was raised at Prime Minister’s Questions.
But just nine months on, Betsi bosses have confirmed that emergency and inpatient care will now only be routinely available at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in the £3.5m state-of-the-art specialist centre.
The board said the decision had the support of the Royal College of Surgeons, as well as patient and GPs groups. But Arfon AM Sian Gwenllian and MP Hywel Williams accused managers of reneging on their previous pledge.
A statement on behalf of both Plaid Cymru politicians said: “We are furious on two counts. Firstly, that Betsi health board has been trying to pull a fast one for the past 12 months.
“The lack of transparency is atrocious. It appears we are now back to square one and the vascular service is to be downgraded despite what we heard at the beginning of the year.
“We are equally furious that patients from across North West Wales will have a poorer service as a result. It is essential to keep a full vascular service at Ysbyty Gwynedd and to resist the downgrading of this and any other service.
“Three years ago we fought to retain full maternity provision at Bangor.
“The vascular service is equally important and if lost will lead to a downward spiral of provision at Ysbyty Gwynedd which serves a huge geographic area to the north and west of Bangor. We must resist again.
“Closing the world-class unit in Ysbyty Gwynedd would be disastrous.
“Quality and safety are the cornerstones of healthcare provision and both of these will be significantly compromised if the well-established inpatient and emergency vascular service at Ysbyty Gwynedd is removed.
Ken Jones, of the Ysbyty Gwynedd Kidney Patients Association, said he had been contacted by many patients who are concerned about the loss of emergency services at Bangor.
He said: “The health board have indicated vascular access at Bangor will remain the same, but what is concerning are the other problems renal patients can suffer. While undergoing dialysis for instance blood vessels can burst and patients will need emergency treatment. Having the magnificent team at Ysbyty Gwynedd is critical to patients’ recovery.”
The health board’s executive medical director Evan Moore said the decision was in line with guidelines from the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland and had the support of the Royal College of Surgeons, the Community Health Council and GPs.
“We have placed significant investment into vascular services, with a £3.5m state-of-theart hybrid theatre opening next year. Our plans have already helped us attract more surgeons, consultants and doctors and this will mean the health board will have one of the best staffed and equipped arterial centres in the UK.