A meeting of the South East Pembrokeshire Community Health Network was held recently at the New Hedges Village Hall.

The meeting was very well attended, including members of the public, many health and social care organisations and community councils.

Local hospital managers, Yvonne Phillips, the rehabilitation co-ordinator, and Tilly Morrissey reported on Tenby Cottage Hospital matters. They described admission procedures to the Tenby Cottage Ward and the numbers being admitted.

The admissions are changing in character as there is now a team of local nurses based at the hospital caring for more patients at home. This is part of a national strategy. Whilst there is still need for more services to be provided at Tenby Cottage Hospital, none have been lost and additional services are being provided, such as some satellite medical services provided from Swansea hospitals.

Alison Kedward and Paul Barnard, of the Operational Pembrokeshire County Team, added to this by answering questions from the previous meeting regarding cataract operations. They provided the Health Board position and it appears there is a communication problem between the various parties involved. It was stated that an ophthalmic specialist would attend the next meeting to fully explain.

They also spoke about the integrated health and social services provision in this area, Pembrokeshire being one of very few areas in the country to be forging this type of provision, with one team operating from the TCH.

Tony Chambers, director of planning and delivery, and Chris Wright, director of corporate services for the Hywel Dda Health Board, then described the Strategic Direction and Draft Five Year Plan for the predominantly rural West Wales area.

The detailed account described the challenges and reasons for change as well as service model changes and clinical leadership required to provide the right care in the right place at the right time. There was an emphasis on providing more care near to the patients and the development of services at community hospitals.

Links with the local doctors' surgeries were discussed and requested and this would be investigated before the next meeting.

It was agreed that the next meeting would be held at the New Hedges Village Hall at 2 pm on Tuesday, April 12. If you have an interest in local health matters, why not make a note in your diary.