Still questions to be answered:
Stephen Crabb on LHB

CLAIMS by local health campaigners that there has been a significant change in the arrangements for out of hours paediatric care at Withybush Hospital have been denied by the Local Health Board. SWAT (Save Withybush Action Team) have reported that from December 1 there will be no paediatric cover after 10:00pm at Withybush’s Accident & Emergency Department. SWAT’s Facebook page has received a significant number of comments and shares since its post of Tuesday (Nov 18) on the topic. Responding to SWAT, a Health Board spokesperson has said that the service model for the delivery of paediatric services has not changed. The Board has, however, not denied that the out of hours services of a middle-grade doctor are to end. The Health Board’s stance, while technically accurate is not the whole story.

The Herald has seen internal Health Board documents that suggest that the services of a middle-grade paediatric specialist were not part of the out-ofhours paediatric service’s long-term delivery plans. At the end of September, Bernadine Rees, the Local Health Board Chair, told the Herald that the new service model developed for paediatric care at Withybush provided for on-site care at Withybush to run from 10am to 10pm, supported by 24 hour Accident and Emergency care. Withybush’s 24 hours paediatric facilities were withdrawn by the Local Health Board on October 20. SWAT now state that the services of a middle-grade paediatric specialist, which have been available out of hours at the Haverfordwest hospital since that date, are to cease from the beginning of December.

SERIOUS CONCERNS 

Significantly, the provision of out of hours specialist paediatric middlegrade doctor cover was omitted from the Health Board’s plans for paediatrics published in April 2014. That document refers only to specialist cover being available during the hours the Short Stay Assessment Unit remains open from 10am to 10pm. While the Health Board has confirmed that A&E remains open at Withybush 24 hours a day, there are serious concerns among Pembrokeshire’s vital tourism business about the effect of further downgrading Withybush’s services. The fact that the service withdrawal has been timed to fall outside the main tourist season, upon which Pembrokeshire’s economy depends, has, in the view of some engaged in the tourist industry, stored up significant problems for the 2015 summer season. The Health Board has still failed to come up with a long term solution for minor injuries care around Pembrokeshire’s south east coast. The future of paediatric care at the hospital was raised by Paul Davies AM, when he and Stephen Crabb MP met with the interim Chief Executive of the Local Health Board, Karen Howell, to raise concerns about the future of services at Withybush. Both urged the Health Board to be transparent in their future plans, following community concerns about the future of Paediatric and Cancer services. They were also keen to find out what steps are being taken to address staff shortages and stressed the need for the new Chief Executive, Steve Moore, to regain the trust of Pembrokeshire people when he takes up his role in the New Year.

LOCAL MP’S VIEW 

Commenting, Stephen Crabb MP said: “2014 has been a very challenging year for Withybush and health services in Pembrokeshire following the refusal of the Welsh Health Minister to back down on his downgrading plans. Having already seen the removal of the Special Care Baby Unit, and the cutting of Paediatrics, there is now uncertainty over the future of cancer services. The welcome news last week that the Health Board have committed to the refurbishment of Ward 10, and a new Chemotherapy Day Unit, still does not address the underlying staff shortage problems at the hospital – Withybush does not have an Oncology or Palliative Care consultant. Unfortunately the meeting last Friday left me with more questions than answers. I made it clear that when the new Chief Executive takes up his role in the New Year, he faces an uphill task in reassuring Pembrokeshire people about the delivery of cancer services.” Local Assembly Member, Paul Davies said: “Last week’s meeting was a good opportunity to raise some very real concerns over paediatrics provision in Pembrokeshire. The downgrading of full time paediatric services at Withybush hospital to a 12 hour model has rightly worried families across Pembrokeshire. Unfortunately, following this meeting I still remain unconvinced that these changes will result in safe and sustainable services. Removing services from Withybush Hospital remains a reckless and irresponsible way forward – and I hope the new Chief Executive will seriously examine this issue, when he takes post in the New Year.”