Saving Bronglais Hospital

Your hospital, your health service: have your say

Every five years or so we see still more proposed health changes looming on the horizon. Hywel Dda is adamant that this is about improved and safer health services but, as is often the case, these services won’t be available for people to access closer to home. Lisa Francis, Chair of Protect Bronglais Services, outlines the proposals and encourages us all to get involved

This time the consultation, (which runs until 21st August), is about the reconfiguration of nine clinical disciplines across the area.

If changes are adopted, Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth (which serves patients from as far away as Tywyn, Caersws and Rhayadr), will see changes to its excellent Stroke Unit. This means that stroke patients initially admitted to Bronglais will be sent onwards to either Withybush, Haverfordwest, or Llanelli for their rehabilitation. Successful rehabilitation for stroke patients is largely dependent on the care and motivational support of loved ones and this means a round trip of 200 miles for many patient visitors. There are no direct public transport links and visiting will be impossible for those without a car.

Clinicians have described the plan as dangerous. At a public meeting last January, even the Board’s own Chief Executive admitted that the plans were incomplete. Now, with the consultation under way, there is still no detail about how stroke patients will be transferred or repatriated back to their homes nor how there will be family liaison in respect of their discharge.

According to the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme, Bronglais Hospital’s Stroke Unit is the best performing of all of the stroke units in the Hywel Dda area. So why the change? If the Stroke Unit at Bronglais scores top marks, then why can’t funds be used to improve it further?

I would urge everyone living in the Hywel Dda HB area to respond to this consultation; please don’t let it just slip by without making your feelings known.

Protect Bronglais Services needs your support at our next public meeting which will be on Friday, 20th June at 7pm at the Great Hall, Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

In the meantime, please continue to fill in our Patient Travel Surveys and Patient Stories (this can be done anonymously) on our website www.protectbronglais.com