Health
Withybush Hospital facing challenges amid RAAC crisis
CONCERNS have been raised over transparency and openness in the wake of the closure of three wards at Withybush General Hospital due to the discovery of RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) issues within its structure. The incident, which unfolded in August, prompted the evacuation of 72 patients, relocating them to South Pembrokeshire Hospital in Pembroke Dock. To accommodate the patient influx, an additional 32 beds were introduced at South Pembrokeshire Hospital, supplementing the existing 40 beds. This development has had a significant impact on the hospital staff.
Lee Davies, the Executive Director of Strategy and Planning at Hywel Dda University Health Board, expressed, “Dealing with the RAAC situation has had a major impact on staff at Withybush Hospital, many of whom are now working at South Pembrokeshire Hospital caring for patients who require ongoing care which can be delivered outside of Withybush Hospital.” He commended the staff for their dedication during this challenging period.
The RAAC survey and repair efforts commenced in May 2023 with the objective of minimising disruptions to daily hospital operations and prioritising bed availability. However, as the extent of the RAAC issue became more apparent, Withybush Hospital faced a looming crisis as the sub-standard RAAC was at risk of collapsing without prior warning.
Currently, the full scale of the problem remains unknown, and there is no indication of the required time for rectification. As a result, there is growing demand for Hywel Dda to adopt a more transparent approach to addressing the issue. Stephen Crabb, MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire, emphasised the gravity of the situation, stating, “The big unknown right now is just how much repair work will need to be carried out at the hospital to make it safe, how long it’s going to take, and how many millions the final cost will be.”
Crabb further urged the Welsh Government to take a more active role in managing the crisis, considering it a national issue that demands their attention. He acknowledged the commendable efforts of the Health Board and Pembrokeshire County Council in managing the crisis but stressed the importance of keeping the public informed.
Hywel Dda has also cautioned that as time progresses, the RAAC crisis may potentially affect services at other healthcare facilities, underscoring the need for a swift and transparent resolution to the Withybush Hospital situation.
Health
Bathing water samplers set for a busy season of water quality checks
WHILE families across Wales start making plans for the summer, samplers from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) are embarking on their annual programme of bathing water quality tests.
This year, there are 110 designated bathing waters which will be sampled multiple times between 15th May-30th September, in line with the UK Bathing Water Regulations. 109 of these are coastal waters, and one inland lake (Llyn Padarn).
Last month the Welsh Government announced that Nefyn Beach in Gwynedd had been added to the list of designations, following a successful application.
Bathing water samples are sent to NRW’s laboratory in Swansea, where they are tested for levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and intestinal enterococci (IE).
Results from a four-year rolling period then determine the classification for the next bathing water season; excellent, good, satisfactory or poor.
Last year, 98% of Wales’s designated bathing waters met stringent environmental standards, with 80 out of 109 meeting the ‘excellent’ criteria.
Clare Pillman, Chief Executive of NRW said:
“More and more people are enjoying the benefits of open water swimming, and where better to take a dip than at one of the many fantastic bathing waters Wales has to offer.
“Our blue waters offer a wealth of recreation opportunities, providing a vital boost to Wales’ tourism sector and the health and well-being of our communities.
“Our teams continue to work hard to tackle the many sources of pollution which threaten our water quality, including from agriculture and storm overflows. Much progress is being made, and we are pressing for record levels of water company investment for the environment in the coming years to safeguard the future health of our waters.”
Prior to the start of the traditional bathing water season, NRW officers undertake a number of pre-season checks and samples. This includes checking to ensure permit conditions for nearby discharges are being complied with.
Issues or deteriorations flagged in last year’s results are investigated by local teams to identify any sources of pollution which may be contributing to high bacteria levels found in samples.
Information about where to find designated bathing waters, and the standard of bathing water is available on NRW’s website.
Visit the Adventure Smart website for information about swimming safely in open waters.
Community
Further pleas to save Anchorage Day Centre
A PLEA by a concerned parent to keep Pembroke Dock’s Anchorage Day Centre open was heard at a full meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council.
The Anchorage Day Care Centre in Pembroke Dock has been a “safe and happy place” for adults with learning difficulties and additional needs for decades.
In more recent years it has expanded to support elderly dementia sufferers.
But now the centre is expected to close, with services instead being offered elsewhere in the county, including Haverfordwest and Milford Haven.
A series of engagement events have taken place at The Anchorage recently, outlining the reasons and the options in continued service.
One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “One young woman who attends ran out of the first meeting sobbing when she was told it was going to close. Another, at the second meeting, tried to address the meeting but was so choked up at the thought of not seeing her friends anymore she could hardly speak.”
In a submitted question heard at the May 9 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, concerned parent Peter Welsh asked: “Is the council aware of the huge impact the impending closure of the Anchorage Adult Day-care Centre in Pembroke Dock is already having to the health and mental wellbeing of my daughter and 20 other vulnerable adults with special needs and learning difficulties, who are unable to cope with changes to routine, or to process and understand what is happening to them?
“And would the council, therefore, please review its closure decision and retain the centre and the vital and invaluable service it provides not only to the individuals concerned but also to the parents?
“If not, what specific measures does the cabinet member have in place to support my daughter and these other individuals who need extra assistance to enable them to maintain their independence, value and allow their carers to have valuable respite from their caring responsibilities and what are the estimated costs for these substitute measures?”
Responding, Cabinet Member for Social Care & Safeguarding Cllr Tessa Hodgson said an engagement with service users, carers and families was made immediately after staff were informed about the potential closure following the council’s March budget setting.
Members were told two sessions were held with all concerned, with a list of alternative day opportunities in the county outlined, with opportunities to attend short sessions at the other centres being available so they “can fully explore which opportunity is best suited to their needs and wants”.
“All service users of the Anchorage will be offered alternative day centre arrangements in order to preserve their independence and also to support the caring needs of their families, these assessments are still taking place and are likely to continue to do so at least until the end of May.”
Cllr Hodgson said she was unable to provide estimated costs of the new arrangements until all the assessments were in place, hoping to update members at a future date.
An online e-petition, on the council’s own website has been launched calling for the Anchorage to stay open.
Health
Calls for Welsh Govt to improve both maternity and neonatal safety
LEADING pregnancy charities have urged the Welsh Government to take stronger measures to enhance maternity and neonatal services, in order to realise the substantial changes necessary to reduce infant mortality. The Sands and Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit released a revealing report today, stating that initiatives in Wales are inadequate to instigate the vital transformation required to prevent baby deaths.
The report, titled “Saving Babies’ Lives 2024: Progress Report,” notes that strides toward diminishing stillbirths and neonatal deaths have halted in Wales, mirroring a stagnant situation across the UK. The findings suggest that with improved care, as many as 800 infant lives could have been saved throughout the UK last year. The document emphasises the urgent need for meaningful action to tackle the severe and enduring disparities in baby loss and pregnancy complications across different demographic groups.
Particularly alarming is the continuing disparity in outcomes for infants from varied ethnic backgrounds and socio-economic statuses. The report underscores that the stillbirth rate in Wales has exceeded that of any other UK nation since 2014, with minimal improvement in neonatal mortality rates over the past decade. Unlike England, which aims to halve the rates of stillbirth, neonatal death, preterm birth, maternal death, and brain injury by 2025 relative to 2010, Wales has set no similar goals.
Moreover, the report criticises the Welsh Government for the insufficient number of reviews conducted following infant deaths, which are crucial for understanding potential lessons and providing grieving parents with needed explanations.
Robert Wilson, head of the Sands and Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit, commented, “Our report unequivocally shows that the Welsh Government must establish clear targets for reducing pregnancy loss and baby deaths, and for eliminating inequalities. These targets should catalyse a thorough suite of policy measures, adequately supported by necessary funding and resources.”
The report provides specific recommendations to enhance maternity safety in Wales, including the consistent involvement of staff and patients, especially bereaved parents, in assessing the quality of maternity and neonatal services. It also calls for transparent and independently overseen reviews of individual services, and improvements in the completion rate of reviews following a baby’s death.
The Joint Policy Unit is advocating for a unified commitment across all four UK nations to eradicate inequalities in pregnancy and baby loss. Disturbingly, the 2021 data revealed that the rate of stillbirths and neonatal deaths among Black babies was almost double that of White babies, and significantly higher than the overall UK rate. This disparity was similarly stark between the most and least deprived areas in the UK.
The report also highlights that only about 2% of public and charity health research funding has been allocated to reproductive health and childbirth over the last two decades, signalling a need for increased investment in these crucial areas.
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