Thousands sign up to save A&E at Royal Glam
TENS of thousands of people have signed a petition calling for the health board to keep the Royal Glamorgan Hospital’s 24-hour A&E open.
Almost 25,000 have signed The Campaign to Save Royal Glamorgan Hospital A&E’s (SRGAE) petition, which is calling on Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board to keep a 24-hour provision at the Llantrisantbased hospital.
The 24,093 people represent around 10% of the population served by the hospital, campaigners say.
A massive campaign by residents, councillors, members of the Senedd (MS) and MPs was launched against any closure, with hundreds of protestors gathering on the steps of the Senedd earlier this year to voice their support for the A&E department.
Len Arthur, chair of SRGAE, said: “This collection of signatures is an amazing result for our campaign, and had it not been for the Covid-19 pandemic, I have absolutely no doubt that we would have gathered in many more than this.
“We have had community street teams strategically placing the petitions in shops and leisure centres, and campaigners have been going door to door collecting.
“We would have carried on with great vigour had the pandemic not prevented our physical activity.”
Diane Blackmore, Vice-Chair of SRGAE, said: “The petition represents some 10% of the catchment area served by the Royal Glamorgan Hospital and has picked up on many households without access to our Facebook group/technology.
“It sends a very clear message to Cwm Taf University Health Board that they must think again.”
The health board is set to make a firm decision on the future of the 24-hour A&E department at its next meeting on June 29, with the possibility of reduced hours or it being closed and turned into a minor injuries unit due to the difficulties recruiting consultants and the safety concerns these raised.
The option to keep a 24-hour service there is also still on the table.
At its meeting on May 28, medical director Dr Nick Lyons told health board members that work on the South Wales Programme proposals had been halted in March so they could focus on dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
He also said that there had been a “significant improvement” in medical rostering and filling of shifts in the Royal Glamorgan Emergency Department following the appointment of a full-time consultant as clinical lead and that there had been modest success in the recruitment of consultant medical staff with further interviews planned.
Work on the programme has now restarted with a firm recommendation on the future of the service set to go before the board at the end of the month.