The Paul Sartori Foundation has given a cautious welcome to the statement released by the Hywel Dda Health Board but have expressed concerns.

“We welcome the assurance from the Health Board that Ward 10 is not to close.  However, we are concerned that there does not seem to be any explicit commitment to placing all cancer patients on Ward 10.  Paul Sartori would also like to have an assurance that all patients requiring specialist palliative care – not all of whom have cancer – will also be accommodated on Ward 10.

Paul Sartori’s Clinical Service Manager, Sophie Thomas, told The Herald:  “In the 36 years I have been nursing, the level of specialist skills and knowledge required has increased enormously.  At the same time, patient expectation has also increased.  It is simply not reasonable to expect the nursing staff on a respiratory, cardiac or general medical ward to maintain the level of knowledge required to provide effective care to cancer and palliative care patients.  Patients need information and support to help them make difficult and complex decisions, as well as skilled physical nursing care.”

“Pembrokeshire is fortunate to have a skilled and experienced team of highly committed nurses and healthcare assistants on Ward 10.   The lack of oncology and palliative care medical staff makes it more important than ever that we use the Ward 10 team effectively.  Preserving Ward 10 as specialist cancer, haematology and palliative care ward will also help the county’s other providers of specialist cancer and palliative care support,  such as PSF, to focus their attention where it is most needed.”

“Pembrokeshire does not have hospice inpatient beds, specialist palliative care outpatient clinics or any palliative care medical staff.  But we do have some excellent cancer and palliative care nurses.  We need to make the most of them.”

The Foundation is also pleased to hear that the Health Board is looking at ways of attracting more candidates to the post of Consultant in Specialist Palliative Care, and hopes to be able to contribute its ideas to these discussions.

Sophie Thomas said: “There are plenty of good things to say about palliative care in Pembrokeshire.  More people in Pembrokeshire die in their usual place of residence than anywhere else in Wales.  I think this is a reflection of good primary care services, care homes that are keen to go the extra mile to keep people where they want to be, and the high level of input the Paul Sartori Foundation can provide thanks to the unstinting support of the Pembrokeshire people.”