Public to have their say on chest surgery move plans

PLANS to move chest and lung surgery out of Cardiff to a single centre in Swansea have moved a step closer.

Morriston Hospital could become the single centre in south-east Wales providing thoracic surgery – which includes lung cancer and chest operations.

Currently, thoracic surgery is provided at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff as well as Morriston – but this could be moved out of the capital following recommendation from an independent panel.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board approved plans on Thursday to hold a public consultation about the plans.

The Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC), which is working alongside six health boards to review how chest and lung operations are provided in south east Wales, will launch an eight-week public consultation on Monday.

Thoracic surgery involves operations on all parts of the chest and lungs, but does not include the heart. A large part of thoracic surgery is with lung cancer patients.

About 420 adult patients have thoracic surgery each year at Morriston Hospital and 650 per year at the University Hospital of Wales.

The changes are being proposed as patients in Wales with lung cancer have some of the lowest survival rates in Europe and they are waiting longer than they should have for surgery, a WHSSC report says.

The new single centre, which would have a team of surgeons, anaesthetists, physiotherapists and specialised nursing staff.

Health chiefs say they hope staff currently working in the thoracic service in UHW would move to Morriston hospital as part of the changes, but would help staff find alternative arrangements if necessary.

An estimated 150 lung cancer operations a year would be provided at the new centre.

In 2015, there were 139 lung cancer operations at Morriston Hospital, and 151 at UHW.

Health boards do not want to change the existing thoracic surgery arrangements for North Wales and north Powys.