Alarm over plan to decide on future of hospital unit
CAMPAIGNERS who oppose plans that could see the downgrading of the A&E department at Royal Glamorgan Hospital say they are alarmed that the local health board intends to make a final decision at its June meeting.
The decision to press ahead was made at a meeting of Cwm Taf University Health Board on Thursday.
One of the options under consideration is a downgrade of the department to a minor injuries unit.
Campaigners want the hospital near Llantrisant to retain the department as a 24-hour consultant-led unit. They welcomed news that a full-time consultant has been appointed to lead the department.
Len Arthur, who chairs the campaign group, said: “We welcome the continuing progress toward making the required appointments at Royal Glamorgan Hospital A&E.
“For us, this is a necessary step toward maintaining the current 24-hour consultant-led service.
“However, we view with considerable alarm the commitment to bring a firm recommendation to the board about the future of the A&E department at its next meeting in June.
“We do not think this is sufficient time to take full account of the lessons of the pandemic, which requires an all-Wales inquiry.
“Our campaigning to stop any downgrading of the A&E department will now intensify through June.”
Diane Blackmore, vice-chair of the campaign group, said: “We are having regular online meetings with the board and we have yet to be convinced that all the legally required assessments have been and could be undertaken before the June meeting. We will continue to campaign and meet with the board to press our case.”
The campaign noted that a paper to Thursday’s meeting from the board’s medical director, Dr Nick Lyons, stated: “The response to Covid-19 has also resulted in innovative models to deliver care in the department and these new ways of working have been implemented at pace.
“The models for service delivery continue to develop as we work with Covid-19 and this has the potential to further support the long-term sustainability of the emergency department.”
The board adds that it would be “leaving no stone unturned in allowing delivery of a 24/7 emergency department”.
A spokeswoman for the board simply drew our attention to the minutes of Thursday’s board meeting, which confirmed that it would “continue to engage with our staff and members of the public on this work with a view to bringing recommendations to the board in June”.