HYWEL DDA University Health Board has today announced the appointment of Lisa Gostling as its Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

Lisa has held the role of Deputy Chief Executive at the health board on an interim basis since February this year, pending the appointment of a substantive Chief Executive Officer, which was announced in October.

Professor Phil Kloer, Chief Executive Officer, at Hywel Dda said: “I am delighted that, following a competitive process, Lisa is appointed to the post of Deputy Chief Executive Officer, a responsibility that she will hold in addition to her post of Executive Director of Workforce and Organisational Development.”

Lisa relocated from the West Midlands to Pembrokeshire and developed her career within the workforce and organisational development teams at the Health Board. She has worked for Hywel Dda and its predecessor organisations since 1993.

Since 2015, she has been a member of the Executive team and Board as Director of Workforce and Organisational Development. Since February this year, she also held the role of interim Deputy Chief Executive Officer. She holds a CIPD qualification from Sandwell College and is a keen Welsh learner.

Phil continues: “Lisa’s innovative approach to recruitment and to staff development has been of great benefit to our health board – including the development of our culture and values that shapes our work every day, and the establishment of the Apprenticeship Program that has seen us enable several local people to join our Hywel Dda teams and develop their career with us.

“Lisa has also been instrumental in supporting our work to reduce our dependency upon agency staffing and building our substantive workforce – ensuring greater sustainability and quality in our teams.

“I look forward to continuing to work with Lisa in her new role and wish her every success for the future.”

Lisa Gostling, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Workforce and Organisational Development, added: “It is an honour to be appointed to this position and support Phil, our Board, and our teams across the health board in delivering health care for our communities.

“I look forward to building on the foundations of the past six months and working with our team of staff who are all dedicated to improving the health and well-being of current and future generations.”

IN a time when healthcare services are stretched thin across the UK, Pembrokeshire stands out as a beacon of hope and innovation with the upcoming opening of Wales’ largest Specsavers store in Haverfordwest. Thanks to a transformative £1.2 million investment, the county is poised to benefit from world-class eye and hearing care when the new store opens its doors on Monday, December 16, 2024.

This state-of-the-art facility, situated at 21 Riverside Quay in the Riverside Shopping Centre, is set to revolutionize local healthcare with 14 test rooms, including two dedicated audiology suites. Not only does this make it the largest Specsavers in Wales, but it also places it among the most advanced in the UK. At a time when accessing NHS services can be challenging, the store’s cutting-edge technology and expanded clinical services offer a lifeline to residents, relieving pressure on GPs, hospitals, and A&E departments.

Andy Britton, ophthalmic director at Specsavers Haverfordwest, highlighted the importance of this development: “Our investment reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional eye and hearing care in Pembrokeshire. This isn’t just about a bigger store – it’s about meeting the needs of our growing community, introducing advanced clinical services, and training the next generation of optometrists.”

The new store is also a hub for education, supporting optometrists pursuing higher qualifications in areas like Glaucoma and Independent Prescribing. This ensures Pembrokeshire residents have access to top-tier care while nurturing a future generation of specialists.

A recent YouGov survey commissioned by Specsavers reveals a critical gap in awareness about eye health. Nearly 70% of Welsh adults don’t think to visit an optician first for eye-related issues, often turning to overstretched NHS services instead. By encouraging patients to make opticians their first point of contact for issues like sudden vision loss or painful eyes, Specsavers aims to change this narrative.

Britton elaborated: “Optometrists are equipped to handle many urgent eye issues, often faster and more effectively than traditional NHS routes. By improving awareness, we’re not only providing faster care but also reducing unnecessary strain on the NHS.”

The grand reopening event promises to be a celebration of both innovation and community spirit, featuring live music from the Haverfordwest Male Voice Choir and appearances by local dignitaries, including Pembrokeshire mayors. Specsavers has also committed to a year of community-focused initiatives in 2025, cementing its role as more than just a business – but a vital part of Pembrokeshire life.

Cllr Paul Miller, Deputy Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, praised the investment: “At a time when many towns are struggling, Specsavers’ decision to invest in Haverfordwest demonstrates confidence in our community’s future. This new store is not just a healthcare milestone – it’s a cornerstone of our town’s regeneration.”

With flexible seven-day-a-week hours and a commitment to both innovation and accessibility, Specsavers Haverfordwest is a shining example of how Pembrokeshire continues to defy national trends in healthcare decline. For more information or to book an appointment, visit www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/haverfordwest.

Pembrokeshire is truly fortunate to have such a forward-thinking service at its heart, proving that even in challenging times, innovation and care can thrive.

A LONG-PLANNED new hospital for west Wales faces significant delays due to funding challenges, Hywel Dda University Health Board’s chief executive, Phil Kloer, has revealed. Originally slated for completion by 2029, the project may now take at least a decade—or longer—to materialise.

The proposed hospital, intended to serve as part of a wider transformation of healthcare in the region, had two potential locations identified after extensive public consultation: St Clears and Whitland in Carmarthenshire. However, the rising cost of construction, driven by inflation, has forced the health board to revisit its strategy.

Rising costs and strategic reassessment

A report presented by the health board highlights that the estimated costs of the original strategy—outlined in a request for £1.3 billion from the Welsh Government—have surged significantly. The strategy aimed to overhaul healthcare services by developing community hubs, refreshing Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and Hospital in Aberystwyth, repurposing Withybush General Hospital in Haverfordwest and Glangwili General Hospital in Carmarthen, and constructing the new hospital.

Acknowledging the impact of inflation and other factors, Mr. Kloer told a health board meeting: “It would be wrong to plough on with the same thinking.” He cited the effects of Covid-19, demographic shifts, and climate change as additional reasons to “refresh” the health board’s approach.

Phased implementation to manage costs

Executive Director of Strategy and Planning Lee Davies presented a paper indicating that while a phased implementation might increase the overall costs of the programme, it could make the project “more affordable for the Welsh Government” over time. The health board also acknowledged that reviewing the hospital’s location could be necessary, despite previous public consultations narrowing options to two shortlisted sites.

Financial struggles and politics compound challenges

The health board’s financial difficulties add another layer of complexity to the hospital’s future. At the same meeting, it was confirmed that the board is grappling with a £64 million deficit, despite delivering £32.4 million in savings.

The delay raises questions about the future configuration of health services in west Wales and underscores the financial and logistical hurdles facing ambitious infrastructure projects in the region.

The delays have reignited political tensions in June this year, with Welsh Health Minister Eluned Morgan (as she was then) laying blame on Conservative politicians for obstructing progress. During a Welsh Parliament session she accused the Conservatives of leading a campaign against a new hospital years ago, which she claimed delayed its construction.

Speaking in response to a question from Pembrokeshire’s Sam Kurtz MS about the ongoing delays, Baroness Morgan said: “If you [the Conservatives] hadn’t led a campaign against the West Wales hospital, it would’ve been up and running by now. The Conservatives must take their share of responsibility for the fact there is not already a West Wales hospital.”

Morgan’s remarks were met with sharp criticism from veteran campaigners and opposition politicians. Dr Chris Overton, a prominent campaigner for Withybush Hospital, called the comments “rubbish,” pointing out that the campaign to save services at Withybush Hospital drew support from across the political spectrum, including members of the Labour Party and non-affiliated community members.

“The reality,” Dr Overton said, “is that Labour has been in power in Wales for 25 years. They’ve had plenty of time to build this hospital. Instead, they’ve salami-sliced services at Withybush to the point where trust in their promises is completely eroded.”

At that time Plaid Cymru candidate Cris Tomos and Liberal Democrat candidate Alistair Cameron both called for greater clarity and transparency from the Welsh Government. Tomos emphasized the need for genuine consultation with communities, while Cameron pointed out that residents face uncertainty about accessing services during the decade-long delay.

Covid an issue

Executive Director of Strategy and Planning Lee Davies said: “The pandemic and subsequent programme delays have meant the timescale for delivery of the programme, in particular the new hospital network, is substantially longer than originally anticipated. It is now highly likely that the new hospital would not be operational for at least a decade.

“In accepting that a new hospital will not be operational in the near future, it follows that the key service changes unlocked through a new hospital will now need to be considered ahead of a new facility and within existing hospitals.”

“Work to support fragile services in the interim of a new hospital has already begun through a programme of work called the Clinical Services Plan.”

“Staff, including clinicians, working with stakeholders and patient representatives have reviewed issues and challenges faced, agreed minimum standards, and developed draft options for nine fragile services.

“The nine services are Critical Care, Emergency General Surgery, Stroke, Endoscopy, Radiology, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics and Urology. They are services which need change and support to continue safely providing care in the medium term.”

Board agreed that the programme prepares for a public consultation to involve further staff and communities in this work. The scope and matters for a future consultation, including the options, will be prepared for the next Health Board meeting at the end of January 2025.

Lee Davies added: “In the absence of a new hospital in the south of our area to address challenges, we need to consider other options to bring together some of our services. We anticipate the emerging model, informed by work on the Clinical Services Plan, will seek to build on the strengths of each of the hospital sites in a way that builds complementary areas of expertise.”