Oncology stakeholders: At Withybush Hospital during the unveiling of new ward plans

A CONSULTANT oncologist will provide cancer care at Withybush General Hospital three days a week, Hywel Dda has confirmed to The Pembrokeshire Herald.

Dr Pudney, has been released by ABMU Health Board, to work at the Haverfordwest hospital three days a week, supporting nursing staff on the chemotherapy day unit and treating patients with breast cancer from Pembrokeshire.

The previous consultant, Dr Anne Barnes, left her position last month because she considered that the health board had made it impossible for her to do her job.

The health board says that the cover doctor is “the result of a partnership approach taken by Hywel Dda University and ABMU health boards to work closely together on the continuing development of oncology services in the region.”

Dr Pudney said “I’m looking forward to supporting the team at Withybush Hospital. I’ve worked as a consultant at the South West Wales Cancer Centre for seven years and I specialise in the management of breast and urological cancers. I’ve got a particular interest in developing advanced radiotherapy, including intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and heart sparing radiotherapy for breast cancer. I’m particularly looking forward to experiencing first hand, the delivery of care in such a rural setting.”

In the longer term, the University Health Board is looking to develop the whole cancer services model across chemotherapy, consultant outpatients, acute oncology (a new UK wide specialty within oncology), pharmacy and other cancer services. This includes work on Bronglais Hospital chemotherapy day unit as well.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Tracey Thomas said: “We are working closely with our key stakeholders, specialist groups and the voluntary sector and have identified funding for four nurses and to support education, training and development that can be shared with our community staff as well. We are also working on professional development opportunities for nurses, all of which will further strengthen the service we provide to cancer patients”.

Dr Delia Pudney of ABMU Health Board

Clinical lead and Associate Director of Clinical Services for the University Health Board Dr Sian Lewis added reassurance for patients following the departure of Dr Anne Barnes from the hospital and the petition regarding Ward 10.

She said: “We acknowledge the public concern and would like to reassure people that Ward 10 continues to be a designated cancer ward. We can reassure patients that her withdrawal does not affect the new service model introduced in Withybush Hospital and provided by a team of doctors and nurses.”

The service model introduced in September sees cancer patients admitted to hospital through the Acute Clinical Decision Unit or the Emergency and Urgent Care Centre so there is no delay to their treatment. Patients are then transferred to Ward 10 or sometimes on other wards depending on their clinical problem, under the care of experienced general physicians and their teams with specialist oncology input from within the University Health Board or from the South West Wales Cancer Centre in Swansea. This is the usual practice in district general hospitals throughout the UK.

Patients who require urgent medical treatment related to cancer are reminded that they should continue to go to A&E as normal.

Dr Sian Lewis said: “We are fully committed to our continued provision of safe cancer, care services within Withybush Hospital and we are working with the HywelDda Community Health Council and community groups to make further improvements in areas such as the Chemotherapy Day Unit. There is a great deal of passion in Pembrokeshire in support of local services, we share that passion and want to harness it to help deliver services of which we can all be proud.”

Chris Evans-Thomas, Bucketful of Hope, said: “We are keen to work well together to bring the new unit to fruition for the people of Pembrokeshire. With the required legislation attached to our donations – all fundraisers for the hospital in future will feel a lot more secure about the way in which their money is spent”.

Bernie George, Withybush Hospital Cancer Day Unit Appeal said: “The team of people who work in Ward 10 and the CDU have our utmost respect. The people of Pembrokeshire have voiced their concerns about the future of the service so we aim to do all we can to work with the health board to bring about the new CDU and the planned enhancement of Ward 10”.

Lyn Neville, Pembrokeshire Cancer Support said: “The care I received at Withybush was fantastic and I know others are as keen as I am to see cancer care at the centre of the University Health Board’s plans for the hospital. The board has given public assurances that a new Ward 10 will be provided and it is up to us to hold them to account for delivering on those promises.”