‘Don’t ignore voice of people’
Plea as D-Day for health plan looms
BATTLING politicians have urged health bosses not to ignore the views of people in Llanelli as D-Day looms over the future of Prince Philip Hospital.
NHS chiefs are preparing to make their final decision over the site on Wednesday, September 26, against a backdrop of fury from the community, which has drawn up five petitions, with 51,000 people opposing proposed changes to West Wales hospitals. Health service staff from across the health board were against such a change, political leaders indicated, in the wake of a consultation that received 5,395 questionnaire responses.
But NHS chiefs have vowed to be “as open and inclusive as possible” in the wake of the consultation and aim to go “above and beyond expectations”.
Llanelli MP Nia Griffith vowed to keep the pressure on to retain the full raft of services in the town as fears over travelling elsewhere for care were raised during the course of the consultation.
She said: “The results of Hywel Dda Health Board’s hospital consultation reveal overwhelming opposition to the proposal that downgrades Prince Philip Hospital amongst the 5,000-plus people who completed the questionnaire. Support was strongest for retaining a general hospital in Llanelli, with many pointing out that any downgrade here would force Llanelli residents to go to Morriston and increase pressure on Swansea’s health board.
“The results also reveal huge concern about locating any new hospital between Narberth and St Clears due to the difficulties of travelling there and recruitment. “Lee and I have written to Hywel Dda to reiterate these points, and we will continue the fight to keep a proper general hospital at Prince Philip and the fullest possible range of services here in Llanelli”.
Lee Waters, Llanelli AM, claimed some feared a decision had already been made over the hospital’s fate.
He added: “There’s been growing local scepticism that health board managers have already made their mind up about the future shape of our local hospitals and this latest statement just adds to people’s cynicism.
“They say that people from Carmarthenshire are opposed to downgrading Prince Philip Hospital, as are NHS staff from across the health board, but add that the final decision ‘will not be determined by numbers alone’ and that centralising services will ‘maximise resources available for investment.’
“They also say ‘the benefits of adopting the most cost-effective option shouldn’t be understated given the ongoing financial pressures and increasing needs of an ageing population’ and a recommended way forward will be ‘led by clinicians.’
“This consultation report feels like a softening-up exercise for an announcement on September 26 that they favour a downgrade of Prince Philip. If they are daft enough to go against the feelings of the people of Llanelli and their own staff, then Nia and I will vigorously oppose them.”
Hywel Dda Health Board chief executive Steve Moore added: “We have committed throughout this process to be as open and inclusive as possible and we’ve striven to go above and beyond expectations for continuous engagement.
“We are therefore making this report available to our patients, staff, stakeholders and communities so we can all take time to read and consider its contents.”