All change for health authorities?

THE name of a region’s Welsh-only health board could be changed because it thinks it is putting people off working there.

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University (ABMU) Health Board chiefs said the transfer of its Bridgend services to neighbouring Cwm Taf Health Board next year gave them the opportunity to come up with a name which more accurately reflected their smaller Swansea and Neath Port Talbot patch.

A name being considered is Swansea Bay University Health Board.

“Our current name is not helpful in terms of recruiting staff,” added board chairman Andrew Davies.

Cwm Taf Health Board is also considering changing its name when Bridgend joins next year.

Earlier this year Welsh Government Health Secretary Vaughan Gething confirmed Bridgend would join Cwm Taf from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg from April next year.

At the latest Cwm Taf Health Board meeting chief executive Allison Williams confirmed that they were looking to consult on possible options for the name change.

Any name change would have to go to the Welsh Government for approval, and the board agreed that chairman Professor Marcus Longley would make representations on its behalf.

Speaking about the transition in general, Ms Williams said: “The special board meeting (where the board agreed to the transfer of services) was an important milestone.”

She said they needed to understand the opportunities and the challenges that the move brings, and make sure that they appropriately plan for the transition.

Turning back to the name changes, Ms Williams said: “We have to consider any costs. The board is very conscious of that.

“We won’t be doing anything that will burden the system with costs.”

ABMU chief executive Tracy Myhill, at a separate meeting, said: “My take is that unless it (a change) is minimal cost, it’s not going to happen.”

She said they couldn’t see money taken away from frontline services.

Swansea Council’s cabinet member for care, health and ageing well, councillor Mark Child, said he felt the public would identify with the name Swansea Bay University Health Board.

Questions were raised at the board meeting about who should have a say in any name change.

Mrs Myhill said there would be limited engagement, as the health board only had a month to tell the Welsh Government its intentions, adding Swansea and Neath Port Talbot councils, trade unions, the community health council, Swansea University and “staff perhaps” might be approached.

ABMU came into being in 2009 following the merger of Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust and Swansea, Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot local health boards.