Coming soon to a hospital near you?

THE ROYAL VOLUNTARY SERVICE, formerly the WRVS, has responded to the announcement that the Local Health Board is to oust its existing coffee shop from Withybush General Hospital.

Earlier this week, the Local Health Board revealed that it is seeking expressions of interest from companies to replace cafés and shops in its hospitals.

A spokesperson for the Health Board said: “Hywel Dda UHB is looking for potential tenants to operate high quality cafe environments and retail outlets in Bronglais, Glangwili, Prince Philip and Withybush Hospitals.”

Interested parties are being asked to outline their plans for the refurbishment of areas of the hospitals at zero cost to Hywel Dda UHB in order to generate income for the organisation through rent and turnover rent. This can then be used to improve the hospital environment for patients and visitors.

At present, the identified spaces are used for cafés and shops provided by the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS), other private providers and in-house staff providing:

• Glangwili Hospital – separate café and shop (both provided by RVS)
• Bronglais Hospital – shop (provided in-house by Hywel Dda employees)
• Prince Philip Hospital – combined cafe and shop (private provider)
• Withybush Hospital – separate cafe (RVS) and shop (WH Smith)

Peter Skitt, Director of Operations for Hywel Dda UHB said: “More and more hospitals across the UK are looking at opportunities to support the patient and visitor experience, whilst also generating income that can be reinvested into improving hospital environments.

“We are still very early on in this process and are being very clear that contracts will only be awarded if the offer given is deemed to deliver the quality and financial returns we expect against what is currently provided at each site. This will be based on potential income for Hywel Dda UHB, as well as quality and scope of services being offered.”

Hywel Dda UHB staff will meet with the private provider at Prince Philip Hospital in advance of the notice and with in-house staff providing services at Bronglais Hospital. There will be no redundancies of Hywel Dda staff as a result of this process. Hywel Dda UHB will provide the required three month notice to the WH Smith shop at Withybush Hospital and a meeting will be held in early October with WH Smith in advance of this notice being served.

Hywel Dda UHB paid tribute to the services already provided, particularly the many years’ service and support provided to patients, staff and visitors by the RVS in Glangwili and Withybush hospitals.

Mr Skitt explained: “We are very mindful that for many years Glangwili and Withybush hospitals have been provided with highly regarded, first class services by the RVS. This decision to explore alternative providers is in no way a reflection on the service RVS or their employees and volunteers have provided us. Members of our estates teamhavemetwithRVSrepresentatives and RVS employees and volunteers have been informed.”

Peter Llewellyn, Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships, added: “Regardless of the outcome of this process, RVS will continue to be a valued partner providing vital services to patients. I have already begun discussions regarding potentially extending current RVS community based transport services across the region. This will greatly enhance patient access to hospitals and other health care settings, particularly for those from rural areas.”

Hywel Dda UHB is also being clear to interested companies and other potential providers that Hywel Dda UHB is committed to the Welsh Government’s vision to supporting healthy eating and this will need to be reflected.

The announcement makes it clear that the Health Board is seeking to follow the path taken by hospitals in the rest of Wales and parts of England, where primary health care providers have effectively been compelled to look to private companies to bolster already squeezed budgets.

Lesley Thompson, Royal Voluntary Service, Head of Support and Development for West of England and Wales, told The Herald: “We are aware that the Board is inviting tenders and we are currently in discussion with them regarding how we continue to work with one another going forward. Our volunteers and staff have worked tremendously hard at the hospitals for many years and we know that their efforts have been hugely appreciated. Whatever the outcome of discussions, we would like to take this opportunity to thank them for everything they have done to make the services at the hospitals a success.”

A local RVS volunteer told us that there was a sense of regret at the end of an era: “There is a lot of disappointment amongst the staff and we feel like we have been let down by the hospital. People are very upset. We have been at Withybush and before then at the old County Hospital for years. It all seems to be about money, these days.”