Written responses to the South Wales Programme engagement Written responses received by health boards between September 26 and December 19 CONTENTS Written responses received by Cwm Taf Health Board p3 Written responses received by the South Wales Programme board p71 on behalf of all South Wales health boards Written responses received by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board p95 Written responses received by Aneurin Bevan Health Board p104 Written responses received by Powys Teaching Health Board p120 Written responses received by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg p126 University Health Board 2 DATE FROM WRITTEN RESPONSE WRITTEN RESPONSES RECEIVED BY CWM TAF HEALTH BOARD 27/9/12 Local councillor On considering the various proposals I am in agreement that the combining of services to make centres of excellence in trauma care and the associated services is certainly the way to go especially if this improves the likelihood of better outcomes and more attractive facilities to prospective new doctors. Looking at the options I am sure that the five hospital options are without doubt the only way to go if you are to provide the coverage required by such a large area. Looking at the valleys to be served, especially in Rhondda Cynon Taf, they are built on a transport system with a North - South alignment with very difficult links between East - West so the only option that would provide the services needed by our residents would be option 5.2 including the Royal Glamorgan. Even with this option, or any of the new proposals, you will need to make sure that a far more efficient ambulance service is in place before going ahead because it is not fit for the current purpose let alone serving people further afield. Lastly I hope you also take into account the visitors of patients who don't have their own transportation; the poor to non- existent public transportation East - West in the valleys and finally the deprivation in the valleys and the fact that the further people have to travel the more this will cost and a great number of residents simply can't afford it at the moment and the prospects are that this will get worse in the near future. 27/9/12 NHS staff member I have attended a meeting today at RGH Llantrisant about the challenges facing the NHS. I am very impressed at how well thought out the whole proposition being put forward has been addressed and presented. My personal view after listening to the possible scenarios are - there should be 5 hospital sites in South Wales, and the RGH should become one of theses sites. The RGH would become the perfect "safety net " or "the link", that the other 4 hospitals can rely on. It is more central for people in many areas of Wales to use should the hospital nearest to them become unavailable due to traffic congestion, over load of A&E departments etc. It is perfectly position with the motorway links from most areas in Wales and many people are already choosing to use the RGH already for its accessibility and efficiency. It also has the room for expansion should a bigger A&E department be needed in the future as the population grows. There is so much more that the RGH can give to make services safe and sustainable and I believe it should be given a position in the future of our changing NHS. 3 29/9/12 Member of public My community will suffer if Royal Glamorgan Hospital is downgraded. I live up the top of the valleys, right by the Rhigos mountain road, and say for instance Royal Glamorgan is downgraded and we have to go to Prince Charles Hospital, for a start there is no direct public transport route from here we would have to get to Pontypridd first then back up to Merthyr [which would take forever] but if you are lucky enough to own and drive a car it would not be so bad. However during winter months the Rhigos road could be closed for numerous reasons therefore putting us in a dangerous scenario if in an emergency. Please listen to my plea. 3/10/12 Member of public There has to be a large-ish district general hospital (DGH) to west of UHW between Cardiff and Morriston; there has to be a large-ish DGH north of M4 corridor to meet needs of the Valleys ,Powys, south Herefordshire. So wise choice is 5.1 or 5.2. But will trainees continue to be supplied by Deanery to Nevill Hall Hospital whilst waiting six years for completion of SCCC in Gwent? 4/10/12 NHS staff member Having attended one of the meetings for the engagement process my concerns are less from a professional point of view and more as a member of the public living in mid Wales (Builth Wells). Even though the population in this area is low it feels as though people living here are not being considered. For me the only option is to ensure we get consultant led care 24/7 in Prince Charles Hospital as this is the closest hospital for us to attend especially as services at Nevill Hall are being downgraded. If all services were to go further south then patients living in mid to south Powys would surely have less chance of survival due to the delay in care because of the long distances that we would need to travel. (Currently PCH is around an hour’s drive from Builth Wells however a journey to any of the other hospitals would take in excess of an hour an a half). I would consider option 5.2 to be the safest and most suitable option. I think it is imperative that the residents of Powys are involved in this engagement process as so far I am unaware of any local press to raise awareness in Powys. 5/10/12 Member of public The chaos surrounding the treatment at A&E at Prince Charles borders on chronic and dangerous to proper care in an emergency . There does need a better solution than travelling the golden hour. Matters would be improved if services at A&E say at Cardiff were effective and prompt. Will this be a "given" if people were to support this proposal? If the proposal is adopted it would mean a percentage of accident and emergency cases will not travel the distance needed to seek help. That will include those who are genuine and will cause a problem to the health service thereafter and those who seek a bed overnight and are swinging it to simply find immediate shelter or treatment but will be a trouble maker and be aggressive whilst there. 5/10/12 Member of public I have read the key documents: particularly the one relating to Cwm Taf Health Board proposals. I live in Mountain Ash near a splendid new Community Hospital and have cause to visit there regularly after a bout of serious illnesses. I am now attending there and use its gym facilities. 4 In principle I would support the main thrust of the proposals and accept the pressures that are creating the need for a review and restructuring. The proposals for infant care are pressing to introduce quickly as well as for A/E if there is a guarantee that services will improve and become stable and effective . If we are to prioritise (and our debt and dire economic problems are predicted to plague us for a further decade) then realistically we have a major problems of continued deficit in public finances for some time to come. I will add my voice to what I am sure will be a " dog barking in the night" sought of comments: (a) services will become more remote to those living in the valleys and hinterlands there will be access problems to the services. (b) there are sure to be internal squables and in what will be a "bun fight" over who gets what and where. There needs to be an independent panel or a body one step removed organisation to arbitrate over how its effectively carved up ie outside the health service . (c) because of excessive travel ( more than what we are used to) this will also apply to ambulance time travelling particularly in an emergency . Traffic in the larger conurbations eg Cardiff will be a struggle at peak road use times . This will be a pressure on ambulance services and much critical time taken up with journeys to and fro. (d) There is a feeling ( real or imagined) that services and facilities are gravitating south from the valleys and the NHS is one of a number of services that are " circling their wagons" and centralising and targeting their services and HQs at main centres of populations. (e) There is a serious need to have a major re-organisation of County Borough Councils and Health Boards and seek to have an integrated public service concentrating on Heads of the Valley and the south. For the reasons above and a desire to see at least Prince Charles Hospital that has made significant improvements to the building is favoured in the allocation of services where its deemed suitable to do so in the models that have been outlined. I have personal experience of this hospital that has saved my life and many like me and continue to offer excellent services in its heart failure four-phased programme of recovery. I hope this has helped. 5/10/12 NHS staff member I have read the leaflet/flyer regarding the services and my opinion would be for scenario 4.3 if there were 4 sites and scenario 5.2 if there were 5 sites.