WITHYBUSH CONTROVERSY

Amidst the controversy over the future of the county's health services, Assembly Minister Brian Gibbons has given a written assurance that there is no secret plan to downgrade Withybush District General Hospital to a cottage hospital. In a letter to community health council member Mrs. Beryl Thomas Cleaver, the Minister added that the current cuts in services were short term, in order to pay back the trust's (Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust who manage the hospital) debts and balance the books. He also assured that trust staff would be paid, and that there would be no future changes in health care without full consultation with the public. His letter was read out during a recent meeting of the Community Health Council, when the future of the county's health services was debated.

NO SHORTAGE OF VOLUNTEERS

Thee is no shortage of willing volunteers to serve on Pembrokeshire Community Health Council. Current members were pleased to hear that the recent all-Wales recruitment drive had resulted in a number of applications from people wanting to join the local council, which acts as the public watchdog on health care in the county. Short-listing of local applicants will take place this month (December). The successful candidates will commence in April.

STAY OF EXECUTION?

Pembrokeshire Community Health Council are hoping for a stay of execution on plans to close the branch surgery at Crymych. The council have voiced their objection to the proposed closure, and Pembrokeshire Local Health Board have backed the council's stance. The final decision has yet to be announced.

MUCH-NEEDED SERVICE

Swansea's Fairwood House Hospital will stay open for the time being. It was threatened with closure by Swansea NHS Trust. Concern was expressed locally that patient care would suffer as a result. The residential annex at the hospital is used by a large number of Pembrokeshire patients. Pembrokeshire Community Health Council was pleased to hear recently that a decision on its closure has been deferred until the next financial year. Chief Officer Ashley Warlow said he would expect there to be significant consultation on the matter as the facility provided a much-needed service for patients undergoing cancer treatments.

SURGERY VISITS

This year has seen a pioneering first for the county's health watchdog, Pembrokeshire Community Health Council - the first time the council has visited Pembrokeshire GP's surgeries on behalf of the patients. The visits will continue next year. The chairman of the council's sub committee, which co-ordinates the visits, has said that 2006 will provide an ideal opportunity to ask the doctors how their appointment system works. In particular, he praised the flexibility and responsiveness of one surgery visited this year by health council members. The surgery had changed its appointment system three times to meet the needs of patients.

FALSE ECONOMY?

The extra burden falling on the ambulance service as a result of the closure of the Cleddau Day Hospital, and the subsequent regular transfer of patients to Withybush Hospital is in the process of being costed, members of Pembrokeshire Community Health Council heard recently. The closure of the day hospital was a £26,000 savings measure introduced by the cash strapped Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust. But critics claimed that an extra cash burden would fall on the ambulance service, and when coupled with staff redeployment costs, would largely eliminate the projected savings. Members of the community health council are also concerned that cost savings may put the school nursing service in jeopardy, this being one of the activities that is presently being analysed in an effort to identify further long-term savings within the Trust. According to the local health trust, they are having some success in recruiting badly-needed nurses, despite a national shortage. A senior trust manager told the Pembrokeshire Community Health Council recently that 12 nurses had been short-listed for posts, and the trust was also looking at overseas recruitment.

COMMENTS SOUGHT

Plans are in the pipeline to close Maenclochog branch surgery, which is run by the Narberth-based practice in Northfield Road. The patients' watchdog, Pembrokeshire Community Health Council has sought comments on the proposal, as part of its role as consultee.

PHARMACY COVER

Concerns have been raised about the potential lack of pharmacy cover across Pembrokeshire over the Christmas and New Year holiday period. Pembrokeshire Community Health Council's chief officer Ashley Warlow informed council members recently that he had received several enquiries about the potential lack of cover and he was discussing the matter with the Pembrokeshire LHB in an effort to have additional provision.

NEED TO CONSULT

As controversy continues over the future of Withybush General Hospital, the county's health watchdog, Pembrokeshire Community Health Council has reminded the health trust of its need to consult with the council on the county's health care. At a recent meeting of the council, it was suggested that the Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust board, which is responsible for the hospital, were not clear about the council's remit, and the requirement to consult with the council about future changes. The chief officer confirmed that there was a legislative requirement to be consulted. AMs Christine Gwyther and Tamsin Dunwoody met with the executive members of Pembrokeshire Community Health Council last month to discuss the current, controversial cut backs in health services. Members were told that a response was awaited from the two AMs, following which there would be full discussion with members. The executive raised a number of concerns.

NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The man charged with overseeing a change of direction in the way health care is delivered in West Wales, has pledged to resign if there is a conflict of interest between his new role, and his current position as chairman of Pembrokeshire Local Health Board. Board chairman Chris Martin, who is also project director of the Case for Change, refuted a suggestion made at a recent meeting of Pembrokeshire Community Health Council that his dual role could cause a conflict of interest. He said his loyalty lay with the local health board - his passion was to improve services in Pembrokeshire, and he "will resign as project director if there is a conflict of interest." A draft blueprint for future health care in Mid and West Wales must include a meaningful consultation with people of Pembrokeshire, it was stressed recently. The man leading the Case for Change project, director Chris Martin, told members of Pembrokeshire Community Health Council that the task was to convince the public that changes were positive. "We need clinical champions - Pembrokeshire deserves it." He claimed the consultation process was an opportunity for stakeholders to have voice, through the community health council, and therefore to control the future of the county's health care.