The group fighting to retain hospital beds and
improve health services in Llangollen and the Dee Valley are so concerned about
the situation that they have called on the Older People’s Commissioner for
Wales to hold an investigation into the Health Board’s decision to close
Llangollen Hospital.
They say that they fear for the well-being of
elderly patients in the area.
Keep Llangollen Health Services have contacted the
office of Sarah Rochira, the Commissioner for Older People, urging her to look
into the “reckless” decision by the health Board.
Mabon ap Gwynfor, of Keep Llangollen Health
Services said: “I recently spoke to a care home professional who said that it
was his opinion that the closure of Llangollen Hospital would endanger people's
lives.
“He explained that elderly people who needed
medical care had no issues with going to a Cottage Hospital, but were reluctant
to go to general hospitals because of the risks of contracting
hospital-acquired infections, such as C-difficile and MRSA.
“Unfortunately his concerns stack up.”
Mabon ap Gwynfor referred to a paper published in
the British Medical Journal, which is quoted by the respected Dr Fosters
Hospital Guide, which says “Risks (such as hospital acquired infections) are
discernible when average bed occupancy rates exceed about 85%”.
"Last year both Wrexham Maelor and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd
had bed occupancy levels reaching 87%.
“The NHS is at crisis point in Wales with A&E
in meltdown, ambulances queuing 10 deep, and bed-blocking because there aren’t
enough community beds available. The Health Board have compounded this with
their reckless decision to close Llangollen Hospital with the loss of 18 beds.
“Elderly and vulnerable patients are especially put
at risk because of the closure of the hospital. That is why we have called on
the Commissioner for Older people to hold an inquiry into the health Board’s
decision.”
The
Campaign group are urging people to share their stories with them by emailing keepllanhealthservices@gmail.com
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