Health services move agreed
THE health services in Bridgend which will come under Cwm Taf University Health Board’s control from next April have been agreed.
At a special meeting on Thursday, August 30, Cwm Taf’s health board approved the transfer list of 137 services from April next year when the Bridgend area is moved into the health board from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg (ABMU).
The Welsh Government health secretary Vaughan Gething announced in June that Bridgend County Borough would be served by Cwm Taf from April 1, 2018.
A joint transition board made up of representatives of both health boards has been set up to oversee the transfer.
The list of services is divided into three categories including:
Services commissioned and provided by Cwm Taf including paediatrics, care for the elderly, intensive care, midwifery, general medicine, physiotherapy and mental health services
Services commissioned and provided by Cwm Taf but with service level agreements (SLAs) with ABMU to keep providing services in some areas including stroke services, diagnostic services, neonatal unit, endoscopy and ophthalmology
Services to be commissioned by Cwm Taf but provided by ABMU including neurology
Chief executive of Cwm Taf, Allison Williams said that the service transfer is the first critical decision to be made as part of the transfer and that the matter has come before a special board meeting now because the consultation needs to begin in September.
She said the staff transfer can’t happen until the service transfer is done and that some service transfers are easier to deal with than others.
Ms Williams said there had been anxieties, particularly in Neath Port Talbot around whether people would still be able to access services as they currently are but commissioning of services for Neath Port Talbot and Swansea will remain with ABMU.
She said: “Patients should continue to be able to access services wherever they choose to and where they do now.
“We want to make sure patient services are not disrupted in any way.”
A contigency plan was put in place in case an agreement couldn’t be reached but they didn’t need to use this option.
Ms Williams confirmed that any key appointments made would be discussed with both health boards before a decision is made.