The replacement of the Minor Injury Unit by the Red Cross providing a first aid service is underway. For the first few weeks of the pilot scheme, it is to be supported by a specialist emergency nurse practitioner, but this will soon end.

Although no detailed figures are available, figures presented at a health board meeting suggest that around one third of patients had to be referred by the Red Cross to the emergency nurse on duty for treatment. If the ENP had not been present, then where would further support have been found on the weekend? Probably at an A&E in Withybush or Glangwili Hospitals, the very thing the health board is trying to avoid.

This community has continuously emphasised that for people from this area to get to an A&E is very difficult, low car ownership, poor public transport. When will the health board listen?

Many people will require support for more than first aid, and following the announcement of the Red Cross replacement service, will this not have a marked affect on patients attending? Surely attendance figures at this time cannot be used to evaluate the importance of the service, but it seems as if this could be the case. It is an issue the CHC will be expected to address in its discussions with the board.

A decision on the future of the MIU is still to be made. In a response to the SEPCHN received this week, the Health Minister, Professor Mark Drakeford stated that: '...the local Community Health Council will be engaged fully in the assessment of the pilot scheme, prior to any permanent changes being made to existing service provision'. It is clear therefore that the CHC is to be involved in the decision and, although it initially agreed to the MIU closure, it was only with the proviso that it would be replaced by an equivalent service. The pilot scheme does not appear to meet that requirement, so closure is not settled.

The SEPCHN also attended the recent Hywel Dda Health Board meeting and presented written questions to the board and a full report of the response will be given at the next meeting.

The MIU provides a valuable service for our community, so please keep up your protests, regarding the closure, to the health board and Minister.

Mansel Thomas,

SEPCHN, chairman