THE LOCAL health board has released a statement today in the run up to changes that it says are ‘essential’ to ensure that the A&E department at Withybush General Hospital remains open 24 hours a day.

The statement reads as follows:

“HOSPITALS and community services across the south of Hywel Dda University Health Board area will support each other further from Wednesday (August 5).  This will allow patient access to medical and unscheduled care services to be maintained 24/7, whilst temporarily there are fewer than usual junior medical doctors in place.

Between now and the end of the year, there will be less medical doctors available at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, after the Wales Deanery was unable to allocate core medical trainees for the usual August start.

Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) Medical Director Dr Philip Kloer explained: “Whilst we have managed to recruit service doctors into the posts ourselves, these are mainly international doctors and it will take some months before all the Visa paperwork and processes are in place and doctors are working on the ground in the hospital. In the interim, we are putting in place a temporary solution to ensure that the number of medical beds at Withybush Hospital reflect the number of doctors available, whilst also keeping the medical intake and doors to the Emergency and Urgent Care Centre open 24/7.”

This involves temporarily providing additional capacity and beds at Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen, and Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli, and shifting both hospital’s patient boundaries further west. For example GP referrals and appropriate Welsh Ambulance Service Trust responses from Carmarthen East and the Gwendraeth Valley, will take patients to Prince Philip Hospital, and likewise those from Narberth, Kilgetty, Tenby and Saundersfoot areas will go to Glangwili Hospital.

Struggle to maintain a 24 hour service: Withybush A&E

Patients across the area will continue to be able to walk-in to their nearest emergency department as they do now. Also following initial feedback we would like to clarify breast cancer patients will continue to be cared for on the Peony Suite (Breast Care Unit) at Prince Philip Hospital.

Initially, Ward 7, a surgical ward at Prince Philip Hospital, will be converted into a medical ward to accommodate additional medical patients whilst a dedicated temporary ward is prepared at Glangwili Hospital, hoped to be ready in eight weeks.

Dr Kloer emphasised: “We will have to initially postpone some planned surgical procedures, but we are working hard to minimise the impact of this, for example ring fencing orthopaedics and cancer surgery and exploring options for doing more day case surgery and possibly weekend working.”

Additionally, the UHB has worked with the local authorities and colleagues in the independent and third sectors to ensure patients who are medically fit and do not need to be in hospital are supported to receive the care and support they need elsewhere. This has included the purchasing of additional beds in nursing and residential homes.

Chief Executive Steve Moore said: “The health board’s priority has continued to be to maintain access to medical and unscheduled care services for our population, whilst we have a temporary gap in the number of junior doctors available. We acknowledge that this situation affects our entire area and that each of our much loved and respected hospitals has a role to play – working together for the benefit of our population.

“The solutions we are putting in place this week have been clinically led and involved a huge range of staff from across the health board area. A huge amount of work has gone into this and the board is extremely thankful and proud of all staff who have been involved from clinicians, nurses, managers and other personnel – all of whom have shown an absolute dedication to patient care. We are also grateful to the ongoing support from partners, including local GPs and the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire local authorities and private and third sector colleagues.”

The local population can support their local hospitals at this time by ensuring they choose the best healthcare service to meet their needs, reserving emergency care for those who need it most. The national Choose Well guidance can help.

Families and friends of patients who have been admitted to hospital can also assist when patients are medically fit and ready to be discharged home, by supporting that process.

The position will improve continuously as doctors come into post at Withybush Hospital between August and December, and the additional capacity which is being put in place at Glangwili Hospital will be maintained in order to support winter pressure.”