Hywel Dda refutes Prince Philip downgrade

By Jonathan Williams

Following the launch of their Your HealthYour Future programme last Monday (6th August), the Hywel Dda Health Board are keen to refute any claims that there will be a downgrade to services in Prince Philip Hospital.

The Health Board were keen to stress to Your Llanelli that our headline was inaccurate and that they would like to the opportunity to respond.

A Press Officer for the Board emailed to say:

"That our (Your Llanelli) choice of headline has the potential to mislead the general public to think that services are being removed when they are not, if they need the service that the emergency department can deliver today, they will still be able to access that service in future."

"Most importantly, it will continue to operate as an acute medical hospital, as it does now, and 100% of patients who are treated there now, will still be seen if the Health Board's preferred options go ahead. The Health Board also wishes to provide additional services at the hospital including an orthopaedic centre of excellence (for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire patients), a short stay unit and a dedicated dementia service."

They also released a statement to us from Board Chief Executive Trevor Purt, who said:

"We are not taking services out of Prince Philip Hospital and will continue to provide care for 100 per cent of patients that currently come through the emergency unit, at the hospital (80 per cent minor injuries, 20 per cent emergency medical admissions). This is great news for Llanelli, as we also want to invest in the hospital and provide additional new services - including an orthopaedic centre of excellence, a short stay unit and a dedicated dementia service.

"We fully understand the passion and enthusiasm shown by the people of Llanelli for the NHS and particularly, Prince Philip Hospital. The listening and engagement exercise has been an invaluable tool in helping us produce our plans for a safe, efficient, high quality, and value for money healthcare system. Our preferred option for Prince Philip Hospital - to maintain minor injuries care within a 24/7 local accident centre and medical emergency admissions through an emergency admission centre - clearly demonstrates that we have listened and changed our plans as a result of discussions and feedback."

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