Minor injuries services are to be withdrawn from Llangollen Cottage Hospital over the next two weeks, according to the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB).
The board has also
revealed to llanblogger today (Monday) that since yesterday the hospital has
been accepting no new admissions and that its staff are being re-deployed to other units.
The Abbey Road hospital
(pictured right) is earmarked for closure as part of a major shake-up of health services
approved by the board last month.
But the two moves
have come as a surprise blow to campaigners fighting to retain health services
in Llangollen who thought they would have longer before the changes went into
effect – at least until they had been fully considered by patients’ watchdog
body, the Community Health Council (CHC), which has until March 1 to decide on
whether to formally object to the change proposals.
However, this
morning, unofficial word came from the CHC that the run-down of services at the
hospital had already begun.
llanblogger therefore
asked BCUHB to confirm if this was the case.
In a statement the
board said: “At the meeting of the Health Board on 18th January it was decided
to move forward with changes to the way some health services are delivered in
North Wales. Planning is now underway to enable these changes to take place.
“Understandably, the
prospect of change creates uncertainty for staff and service users. Some
services, such as minor injuries, already suffer periodic disruption due to
staffing difficulties.
“There is a risk that
other services could become more difficult to operate safely as staff start to
look at alternative roles and opportunities within the Health Board.
“It has therefore
been agreed that:
“ • Minor Injuries
Services will be consolidated in the hospital hubs over the next two weeks.
This will ensure we can offer a dependable, 7 day per week service at the
hospital hubs, further supported by the services at Bryn Beryl and Tywyn
Hospitals.
“Minor Injuries services will therefore
no longer be available at Llangollen, Chirk, Flint, Ruthin, Colwyn Bay and
Blaenau Ffestiniog Hospitals.
“ • Changes to X-ray
services will go ahead as soon as possible, subject to the need to tie in with
outpatient clinics that have already been booked.
“ • Detailed planning
to set up Enhanced Care at Home services across North Wales will start
immediately.
“ • From Monday 4th February staff at Flint,
Llangollen and Prestatyn Hospitals will start their process of redeployment to
strengthen other community and hospital services. This means new admissions to
these hospitals will cease. Admissions to Blaenau Ffestiniog Hospital will
continue at present.
“At the moment the Community Health
Council is considering its response to our planned changes and we fully respect
their position.
“However, we have to balance this with
safety of services, our use of resources and our desire to implement the
planned service improvements.
“The Board will continue to work with
the Community Health Council over the next few weeks to address any outstanding
concerns but it is right that, where appropriate, we move forward without undue
delay.”
Llyr Gruffydd, North Wales Plaid Cymru Assembly Member, who has been
prominent in the campaign to safeguard health services locally in Llangollen,
said: “It’s astounding that the health board has decided to close community
health facilities including X-ray services, in-patient beds and minor injury
provision without waiting for the Community Health Council’s final response.
“The CHC, which is a
statutory watchdog, has expressed grave concerns over a number of changes being
proposed by Betsi Cadwaladr and this rush to closure seems to be ignoring those
concerns completely.
“It’s also a snub to health minister
Lesley Griffiths, who only this week announced that the buck stopped with her
regarding any NHS changes.
“Will she now intervene to prevent
community hospitals such as Llangollen and Flint from closing?”
A spokesperson for campaign group Keep Llangollen Health Services (KLHS) said: "The Health Board is closing hospitals despite the Community Health Council still pondering its final decision. This makes a mockery of the whole consultation process. We’ve got evidence that the health board planned for Llangollen to lose its rehabilitation unit back in October,while the public meetings for the consultation was still taking place!
A spokesperson for campaign group Keep Llangollen Health Services (KLHS) said: "The Health Board is closing hospitals despite the Community Health Council still pondering its final decision. This makes a mockery of the whole consultation process. We’ve got evidence that the health board planned for Llangollen to lose its rehabilitation unit back in October,while the public meetings for the consultation was still taking place!
"Patients have told us that they were denied blood tests in November because the hospital was closing and now we have this, further evidence that the consultation process was part of a stage-managed smoke and mirrors act.
"The Health Board has lost all credibility. Our health services are neither safe nor sustainable in their hands and the Health Minister must intervene as a matter of urgency."
