Surgery centre plans backed

Local democracy reporter

A NEW centre for chest and lung surgery in South Wales could be set up in Swansea if concerns are met about the future of major trauma care in Cardiff.

Morriston Hospital would become the single centre in South Wales providing thoracic surgery – which includes lung cancer and chest operations – under plans being considered by the NHS.

The plans come after a major trauma centre – a 24-hour facility for the most critically-ill casualties – located in Cardiff was approved earlier this year.

Concerns were raised during consultations about how patients requiring thoracic surgery at Cardiff’s major trauma centre could be covered if the proposed thoracic centre is located in Swansea.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB) last week approved the plans on the condition that a workforce plan and rota is drawn up to to provide 24/7 thoracic cover for Cardiff’s major trauma centre.

The health board’s approval would be withdrawn if the thoracic surgery workforce plan for the major trauma centre is not agreed within six months.

Currently thoracic surgery is provided at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff and at Morriston.

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

The proposed new centre in Swansea would bring together a team of surgeons, anaesthetists, physiotherapists and specialised nursing staff and would perform at least 150 lung cancer operations a year.

The proposal is being led by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee on behalf of six health boards in South Wales – which all individually have to choose whether to approve the plans. A consultation found 53% of people across Wales who responded to a consultation said they were against the plans, while 42% agreed.

Len Richards, chief executive of Cardiff and Vale UHB, said there were “very few dissenting voices” raised during consultations about the idea of a single thoracic centre, but its proposed location and its relationship with the major trauma centre was a significant issue raised.

He said the two current thoracic units in Cardiff and Swansea were “quite small” and staff shortages had potential to affect services. Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Community Health Council told the board it could not support the plans due to the public response and issues such as accessibility and transport, the distance from the major trauma centre, lack of information about timescales and finances of the project, and the loss of experienced staff from University Hospital Wales.

Maria Battle, chairwoman of UHB, said assurance was needed that patients would be safe in the major trauma centre.

She said: “There will be no changes until and unless we as a board are satisfied as to that cover.”