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Powys County Times
7 days ago
- Health
- Powys County Times
Calls made for council to back Bronglais Hospital services
Campaigners opposing the loss of services at mid Wales' biggest hospital have received the backing of councillors. Late last month, Hywel Dda University Health Board launched a public consultation, running to August 31, into potential changes in service provision across Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire after classifying nine key services as 'critical', stating that urgent reorganisation is necessary. The services identified are: critical care, dermatology, emergency general surgery, endoscopy, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, radiology, stroke, and urology. There are no changes to how people access emergency care (A&E) or minor injury care. It has raised concerns that some services at Bronglais could be downgraded, with including stroke services being downgraded to a 'treat and transfer' model. A Notice of Motion by Cllr Alun Williams, heard at the June 12 meeting of Ceredigion County Council, said: 'Ysbyty Cyffredinol Bronglais may be on the northern periphery of the Hywel Dda Health Board area, but it is in a central position on the map of Wales and the only general hospital between Carmarthen and Bangor. "It provides vital healthcare services for patients in Ceredigion, Powys and Meirionydd. 'Accessibility and local provision are fundamental to good healthcare and we will take a critical view of any proposals likely to lead to a loss of local services. We note that concerns have recently been raised about the potential reduction of services at the hospital by Hywel Dda University Health Board – this time concerning stroke services. 'To this end we support in principle the work of the Protect Bronglais Services local campaign group in its efforts to prevent any reduction of services at the hospital. 'Given that public transport links are already inadequate in this region, moving services away from Aberystwyth will make access to adequate hospital treatment even more difficult.' The call by Cllr Williams asks that: 'Hywel Dda University Health Board acknowledges that the residents of Ceredigion and central Wales deserve as full and accessible a health service as all other residents within the Board's remit.' 'Hywel Dda University Health Board, and the Welsh Government, clarify their positions on the future of vital services at Bronglais in general and equity of access to healthcare for the population of central Wales, stroke services in particular.' Speaking at the June 12 meeting, Cllr Williams, who had presented the notice on behalf of Cllr Gareth Davies, said concerns about the potential loss of services had led to the Protect Bronglais Services group being set up. A public meeting attracted more than 200 people, with a further – larger – meeting due to take place in the great hall at Aberystwyth University's campus. A petition to the Senedd has attracted more than 2,400 signatures since its recent launch. 'Bronglais is the only hospital between Carmarthen and Bangor and a broad swathe of land in central Wales," he added. "Bronglais is absolutely pivotal to the Welsh healthcare system.' Cllr Eryl Evans, who seconded the motion, said: 'The stroke department has been recognised as one that gives very high standards of care, the service as it is perfect; it's completely unreasonable and a gross extra strain on the patients.' Cllr Catrin MS Davies said a reduction in stroke services would be 'forcing residents to travel to Llanelli or Haverfordwest.' Cllr Williams' motion was unanimously backed by councillors. At the May meeting of the health board, Medical Director Mr Mark Henwood said: 'No decisions have been made on the options presented, and there are currently no preferred solutions. "The changes we are looking to make are to ensure we have safe, high-quality services and affordable healthcare in the future, and have at their heart the best interests of the people of west Wales and their patient experience.' The proposals will be further discussed at a future health board meeting, expect to be November of this year.
Western Telegraph
06-06-2025
- Health
- Western Telegraph
Pembrokeshire artist transforms garden at hospital
Lloyd the Graffiti Artist created the artwork for St Caradog Ward at Withybush Hospital, funded by donations to Hywel Dda Health Charities. The Pembrokeshire artist, who has been painting since 1998, is renowned for his work capturing the county's history and natural beauty. He creates unique paintings using spray paints and has collaborated with schools and youth organisations across Pembrokeshire. Aileen Jakeman, occupational therapy technician, said: "We are very grateful that charitable funds have enabled us to fund Lloyd to create the fantastic artwork. "The murals have completely transformed our garden. "Colour can have such a powerful impact on our moods, feelings and behaviours, social studies have shown that colours created in the right environment can have a positive impact on health and mental well-being. "The artwork can now benefit our service in many ways: distraction when a patient is overwhelmed by anxiety, a talking point when dealing with emotions and depression, and a peaceful environment for group work and socialising." Nicola Llewelyn, head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said that the support of the community helps the charity to provide services above and beyond the usual NHS provision across west Wales.
Wales Online
03-06-2025
- General
- Wales Online
'Funny and kind-hearted' teenage girl died in hospital after trying to take her own life
'Funny and kind-hearted' teenage girl died in hospital after trying to take her own life Sky Lewis had a history of mental health problems and self-harming, an inquest has heard Sky Lewis, who died aged 16 (Image: Michaela Fry ) A 'funny and kind-hearted' teenage girl who was moved from her family home to a care home took her own life, an inquest has heard. Sky Louise Lewis, who was born in Wolverhampton, moved to Newport and later Cardiff as a young girl with her mother. She attended Eastern High School in Cardiff and was studying for her GCSEs in 2019. During that period she moved to live in a care home in the Haverfordwest area of Pembrokeshire, having struggled with her mental health. A full inquest into her death, which got underway at County Hall in Haverfordwest on Tuesday, June 3, heard that Sky had a history of self-harming. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . The senior coroner for Pembrokeshire, Gareth Lewis, was told that on one occasion Sky drank alcohol before going to school in Cardiff, with her mother only realising when the school contacted her to say her daughter had arrived drunk. Sky Lewis has left a 'space that cannot be filled', according to her mother (Image: Michaela Fry ) Article continues below On July 28, 2019, Sky tried to take her own life in the care home she had moved to. She was found and taken to hospital but her mother said medics told her on July 30 that her daughter was 'brain dead'. Sky passed away in hospital a day later, on July 31, 2019, aged 16. The inquest, which is expected to last up to three weeks, will hear evidence from different people representing different organisations including Hywel Dda University Health Board, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff Council, and Sky's family. Why we cover inquests – and why it's so important that we do As painful as these proceedings are for those who have lost a loved one the lessons that can be learned from inquests can go a long way to saving others' lives. The press has a legal right to attend inquests and has a responsibility to report on them as part of their duty to uphold the principle of open justice. It's a journalist's duty to make sure the public understands the reasons why someone has died and to make sure their deaths are not kept secret. An inquest report can also clear up any rumours or suspicion surrounding a person's death. But, most importantly of all, an inquest report can draw attention to circumstances which may stop further deaths from happening. Should journalists shy away from attending inquests then an entire arm of the judicial system is not held to account. Inquests can often prompt a wider discussion on serious issues, the most recent of these being mental health and suicide. Editors actively ask and encourage reporters to speak to the family and friends of a person who is the subject of an inquest. Their contributions help us create a clearer picture of the person who died and also provides the opportunity to pay tribute to their loved one. Often families do not wish to speak to the press and of course that decision has to be respected. However, as has been seen by many powerful media campaigns, the input of a person's family and friends can make all the difference in helping to save others. Without the attendance of the press at inquests questions will remain unanswered and lives will be lost. On Tuesday, social worker Christopher Evans told the hearing that Sky was a 'high-risk' individual who had been living in a 'high-anxiety household' and a 'difficult home environment' before she moved to the care home. The inquest heard that Sky took medication for depression and to help her sleep, and told her mother that at one point she 'didn't want to be here anymore' and that she would keep trying to kill herself until she was successful. In a statement, Sky's mother Michaela Fry said her daughter was 'funny and kind-hearted'. She said: 'She loved doing silly things to make people laugh. She had a big, infectious laugh, the kind that filled the room and made everybody feel better. 'Life without Sky seems empty and full of 'I wonders'. I love Sky so much and miss her tremendously. There is a space here now that cannot be filled. I will always belong to her.' The inquest continues. Following Sky's death, it was revealed that her organs were donated to help others. You can read more about that here.
Wales Online
03-06-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
'Enough is enough' as fears grow over future of Welsh hospital
'Enough is enough' as fears grow over future of Welsh hospital The health board has launched a public consultation looking at potential changes after classifying nine key services as 'critical' Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest (Image: Western Mail ) Concerns are mounting over potential service cuts at Pembrokeshire's Withybush Hospital following proposals from the health board that include transferring patients requiring specialist critical care to Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen. Hywel Dda University Health Board initiated a public consultation on May 29, which will run until August 31, regarding possible changes. The board has categorised nine key services as 'critical', asserting that immediate reorganisation is essential. The identified services include critical care, dermatology, emergency general surgery, endoscopy, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, radiology, stroke, and urology. There will be no alterations to how individuals access emergency care (A&E) or minor injury care. This has sparked worries that some services currently offered at Withybush Hospital may be moved to other hospitals within the health board's jurisdiction. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . In terms of critical care, three options include intensive care units remaining at Bronglais and Glangwili, an enhanced care unit being established at Withybush and Prince Philip, or patients at Prince Philip or Withybush requiring specialist critical care being transferred to Glangwili. At present, full emergency general surgery services, including surgical operations, for adults are provided at Glangwili, Bronglais and Withybush. Patients from Prince Philip are transported to Glangwili. The consultation presents two options in this area. Article continues below Consultant surgeons specialising in emergency general surgery will be stationed at Bronglais and Glangwili hospitals to provide comprehensive emergency services, including surgical procedures. Patients from Withybush requiring surgery will be transferred to Glangwili for their operations and then brought back to Withybush to recuperate when they are well enough. The arrangement for emergency general surgery consultants will see them based at Bronglais and alternating between Glangwili and Withybush weekly to carry out surgeries. Local Senedd Members Paul Davies MS and Samuel Kurtz MS have emphasised the crucial role of Withybush Hospital. Paul Davies, who has consistently opposed the reduction of services at Withybush, commented: "This consultation is the latest in a long line of consultations that have all resulted in vital services being cut at Withybush hospital – and enough is enough. "It is not acceptable for the people of Pembrokeshire to have to travel further for vital health services and I will be fiercely campaigning against Hywel Dda University Health Board's latest proposals. "Withybush Hospital has been under attack for years because of the health board's ideological pursuit of a shiny new hospital elsewhere in west Wales. Withybush Hospital and the people it serves deserve support and investment, not more cuts. The Welsh Government should intervene and ensure that services stay put at Withybush hospital." The proposed new 'super hospital' is not anticipated to materialise in the forthcoming decade, as previously indicated by the health board. Sam Kurtz MS, a native of Withybush, expressed his concerns: "The loss of vital services at Withybush, including SCBU, consultant-led maternity, and children's A&E, remains deeply felt by local people. The removal of one service often renders others unviable." He further warned: "If any further service loss were to threaten the viability of the A&E department, that would be wholly unacceptable and would be a red line. It would be met with fierce opposition from the community, and I will be standing shoulder to shoulder with them in that fight." On financial matters, Pembrokeshire cabinet member, Councillor Alistair Cameron, who has voiced worries about the proposals at full council sessions, stated: "We all know the health board is struggling to deliver many of its services and it has described nine of its services as fragile." Regarding the health services' future, he added: "It has now issued a 44-page summary document on the future of these fragile services. The board needs to clearly explain the options it is looking at and make sure everyone gets a chance to have a say." Councillor Cameron also raised concerns about patient accessibility to treatments: "I can see some options involve patients having to travel further for essential treatments and that will be a major concern. There will be 11 consultative events in West Wales plus online events. However, the board needs to reach out to those who cannot make the events and do not have access to a computer." Article continues below During the May 29 meeting, medical director Mr Mark Henwood stated: "No decisions have been made on the options presented, and there are currently no preferred solutions. The changes we are looking to make are to ensure we have safe, high-quality services and affordable healthcare in the future, and have at their heart the best interests of the people of west Wales and their patient experience."
Western Telegraph
02-06-2025
- Health
- Western Telegraph
Thousands in west Wales waiting too long for eye care
Nearly half of those patients have already waited more than 36 weeks, raising fears of avoidable, permanent vision loss. The latest figures come during Cataract Awareness Month and highlight what health professionals are calling a growing crisis in eye care across South Wales. Of the total waiting, more than 8,000 patients in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area are breaching target treatment times. Sam Evans, a consultant ophthalmologist in west Wales, said: "I'm frustrated. "We're seeing avoidable sight loss because people simply cannot get seen in time. "Cataracts are treatable, but patients don't need to wait as long as they are, and are coming to harm with these long waits." Mr Evans runs a private 'see and treat' cataract service in west Wales, working with optometrists who provide clinical referrals. His model offers telephone consultations and surgery within two to four weeks of referral, often requiring just a single hospital visit. He has also performed same-day bilateral cataract surgery for five years and believes the approach is both safe and efficient. Mr Evans said: "In many cases patients only need to come to the hospital once – for surgery on both eyes, and need no further visits. "This approach is fantastic for older patients who struggle to get to the hospital for repeated visits." The service has proven especially valuable in rural areas like Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, and Ceredigion, where travel to hospital can be a major barrier. One patient, Ron Jenkins, waited more than two and a half years for NHS surgery before opting for Mr Evans' service. He said: "After waiting over two years on the NHS list, I was hesitant to go private but my vision was getting worse and affecting my daily life. "I wasn't sure about having a phone assessment at first, but it worked brilliantly. "I was offered a one-stop visit for assessment and surgery, saving me a 55-mile round trip. "The care was excellent, the surgery painless, and I'm now driving at night and reading fine measurements again, life back to normal." Optometrist Rachel Brady said: "Embracing the convenience of telephone consultations and the innovative 'see and treat' approach in cataract surgery transforms the patient experience, eliminating the need for multiple, time-consuming exams and logistical hurdles." Mr Evans believes June's Cataract Awareness Month should lead to real change. He said: "Awareness campaigns matter — but awareness alone isn't enough. "We need real action. "The solutions exist, but need to be put into place at scale."
