Health chiefs have confirmed that they are no longer considering any changes to the current services at Tenby Cottage Hospital. As reported in last week's issue, there were fears that the hospital was facing a possible short-term closure, until the opening of the new hospital at Gas Lane. This was one of a number of options being considered by Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust in its efforts to secure savings on an anticipated overspend of £2.4 million in this financial year. However, both AM Christine Gwyther and the Tenby Cottage Hospital Local Implementation Group, who were keen to retain services at the current hospital until the new facility opens, have received written confirmation stating that the Trust will not be discussing the cottage hospital services in the future. "I am very pleased to be able to set the record straight - once and for all - on the future of hospital beds in Tenby," said AM Christine Gwyther, a member of the Local Implementation Group, who has discussed the issue with staff at the Welsh Assembly Government. She continued: "When the Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust won the capital funding of over £4 million from the Welsh Assembly Government, it was on the understanding that services in Tenby and South East Pembrokeshire would be improved. Not slashed. And not mothballed. "As the local Assembly Member I fought long and hard for this funding - both in public and behind the scenes, and so I was utterly appalled when, a fortnight ago, rumours started to circulate that the Trust intended to close the Cottage ahead of schedule, leaving a gap in provision. "This was without the knowledge or consent of the Tenby Local Implementation Group, of which I am a member. "And it was without the knowledge - or consent - of Welsh health minister Brian Gibbons. I contacted the health minister immediately, and was grateful for his assurance that no such closure would be countenanced." Here is the full e-mail from his senior official in West Wales, Tony Hurrell: 'Further to our conversation this morning, I would confirm that I have indicated to Pembs Trust and LHB that our bottom line expectation with regard to the potential closure of the 'old' Tenby hospital is that the new bed provision would be in place before the 'old' bed provision is stood down. Having said that I also indicated that I would expect a de-commissioning/re-commissioning plan to be formulated to ensure a continuity of care and minimise the risks to patients as a result of this transfer of care setting. It may well be inappropriate to transfer patients from one bed facility to the other and this will need to be encompassed in the plan. I believe the Trust and LHB should aim to seek discussion and acceptance of the plan with the key stakeholders prior to implementation.' Added Christine: "It is clear to me from this e-mail and from our discussions that the Welsh Assembly Government is standing firm to its commitment to the patients, staff and families who rely on the current Tenby Cottage Hospital. "I am eternally grateful for that, and I know the community is also grateful. But it should not have taken my intervention to achieve a decent and caring outcome from a Trust which is charged with the delivery of healthcare in Pembrokeshire. "I accept that the Trust has financial difficulties and it is apparent that better financial management will be an important part of its recovery programme. But cuts in front line services must be resisted and be a matter of last resort - not a knee-jerk measure, as these proposals appear to have been. "The Trust chief executive has now written to say the beds will stay open. But I believe the Trust should carefully examine their list of cost saving measures to see what they will actually achieve. Every action has a reaction. And every cut in health provision will have to be picked up by somebody else - whether it is social services, the ambulance service, local doctors, volunteers or, of course, patients themselves and their families. This is the real cost of cuts. Health funding has risen exponentially over the past eight years. For that money, I think we are entitled to prudent, effective and efficient management from our health executives - and from the Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust Board which governs them." Members of the Local Implementation Group were also delighted to receive a letter from the acting chief executive of the Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS, Mary Hodgeon, stating 'we will no longer consider any changes to the current provision in Tenby as part of our contingency savings plan'. "With this good news it is now possible to move on and complete the arrangements for the new hospital," said group chairman, Mansel Thomas. "The main building is progressing well and it is hoped to sign the contract with Park House Court for the NHS beds in the near future," he continued. "This will secure a full reprovision of hospital services for the split site hospital that was promised by the health minister nearly two years ago. "Once the final details have been agreed, a comprehensive display of the new hospital's exciting facilities will be taken out to the community at locations which will be announced shortly."
