Llanelli’s Welsh Assembly member and the constituency’s Member of Parliament have put out a joint statement following yesterday’s special ‘NHS Change’ meeting held by the Hywel Dda University Health Board in Carmarthen.

It reads –

Lee Waters AM and Nia Griffith MP welcome retention of services at Prince Philip General Hospital.

Llanelli’s AM and MP have welcomed Hywel Dda Health Board’s proposal to keep Prince Philip as a General Hospital with acute services, such as Minor Injuries, remaining in Llanelli.

The announcement comes after vigorous opposition by local campaign group SOSSPAN, supported by the MP and AM, to prevent a downgrade to a community hospital.

Lee Waters AM said: “I’m glad that the Health Board listened to the strong representations that Nia and I made to them. Turning Prince Phillip into a Community Hospital was not on.”

Nia Griffith MP said: “We welcome the announcement today by the Hywel Dda Health Board to keep Prince Philip Hospital as a General Hospital and to keep acute medicine here in Llanelli, and I welcome close cooperation with ABMU, the Swansea Health Board.”

But both warned that the move of some of the planned operations out of Prince Phillip and all from Glangwili hospital into a new purpose built super-hospital near Whitland will need to be carefully managed.

Nia Griffith said: “The new hospital will be an hour away by car for most people in the Llanelli constituency, and many will be closer to hospitals in Swansea and along the M4. It’s essential that there are no bureaucratic boundaries between the health boards which get in the way of people being treated as close to home as possible”.

Lee Waters added: “About 25% of households don’t have a car and we need to make sure they can easily access the healthcare they need. And we need to make sure we can the most of digital communication so that people can have face-to-face contact without always needing to travel.”

The MP and AM will tell Health Secretary Vaughan Gething that Prince Philip needs to receive continued investment to secure a long term future.

Nia Griffith MP added: “We will be keeping close watch on the further development of the Board’s thinking on emergency, urgent and planned care.”

Lee Waters also said he was very concerned about the announcement that mental health services for the most serious cases will be provided outside of the area.

He added: “I’m worried that the new Mental Health treatment unit that was being planned for Llanelli will now be placed at the proposed new hospital near Whitland, alongside the planned new assessment unit. Llanelli is still on course to have a Community mental health centre, but that will not deal with more serious cases. Nia and I will be meeting with the Health Board to discuss this.”

See earlier post –

Here’s the verdict from today’s special Hywel Dda Health Board meeting

Match Report – Cardiff Met v Carmarthen Town  (25 September 2018)

Cardiff Met (3)  Carmarthen Town (1)   Nathanial MG League Cup R2

Carmarthen deservedly crashed out of the League Cup after a very disappointing performance that was a complete contrast to their impressive display of attacking football which earned them a comfortable victory in the WPL match between these sides at Richmond Park only three weeks ago.

The early stages of this match were decidedly uneventful with the play being largely confined to unproductive midfield exchanges as both sides squandered possession all too easily.

But all that changed after 8 minutes when Mael Davies initiated a slick move that carved open the Met defence.  Town’s stylish midfielder, from the centre-circle, threaded the ball through to Liam Thomas who, with a slick pass, instantly set Luke Bowen sprinting forward to the edge of the penalty area where the experienced on-form striker dispatched a fierce angled drive that flew past ‘keeper Max Manson and into the far corner of the net – that was his fifth goal in the last six matches.

Yet that simply prompted the hosts to enliven their performance and they began to monopolise possession, methodically building attacks from deep positions and increasingly probing the Old Gold defence.  And on 14 minutes they drew level.  Will Evans on the left flank fired a huge cross to the far side of the penalty area where Dylan Rees struck a low angled shot that was smartly blocked by ‘keeper Lee Idzi – however the ball fell nicely for Rhys Thomas who had the simple task of stabbing it into the net from close-range.

The Met continued to dictate the pattern and pace of the game with the play largely confined to the visitors’ half.  Yet for a spell they were unable to again pierce the Town defence very much due to the assured performance of Dave Vincent, making a rare start this season, while alongside him Lewis Baldwin impressed on his Carmarthen debut looking strong, mobile and composed under pressure.

Town could make only rare progress with occasional counter-attacks.  But in the 32^ndminute they went close to regaining the lead – Tyrrell Webbe, from the half-way line, made a powerful run along the left touchline before sending an inviting cross into the penalty area where Bowen struck a stunning volley that was resisted by Manson, turning the ball away with an excellent flying save.

After 38 minutes the hosts were similarly denied a goal.  Chris Baker played the ball across the edge of the penalty area to Eliot Evans who dispatched a rasping strike that drew a smart save from Idzi.

But in the final minute of the first-half the Met went ahead very much due to a mix-up in the Old Gold defence.  Joel Edwards, from the left-wing, sent a deep cross into the goalmouth where Idzi and Declan Carroll both fatally hesitated in clearing the danger which allowed Baker the time and space to dart in and stab the ball home from close-range.

After the interval the game became more open and fast-paced as the play switched quickly from end to end although neither side could make any real impression on the opposition defence and no early scoring chances emerged.

For Carmarthen the principal architect of their midfield progress was Mael Davies, forever looking calm and confident in possession as well as accurate and penetrative with his distribution – but with his usual midfield partners, Ceri Morgan, Greg Walters and Luke Cummings, all on the subs bench for this cup-tie he was often short of effective help in that area.

Yet both sides were unable to make much progress and it was not until the 71^stminute that any decent scoring opportunity arose – and that was due to a defensive error. Vincent, on the edge of his own penalty area, allowed Tim Parker to rob him of the ball and the tall striker instantly struck a crisp shot that Idzi, stretching high, just managed to claim.

Remarkably, Town’s only notable scoring effort in a very uninspiring second-half came in the 81^stminute when Bowen broke clear of the Met back-line and raced into the penalty area before releasing a fierce angled drive that Manson blocked with a smart save – the loose ball rebounded out to Carroll and he sent it across to Sean Hanbury who saw his promising strike turned past the post by Manson diving quickly down at full length.

However the hosts finished the match as the more determined and stronger side.  On 86 minutes Adam Roscrow sprinted along the left touchline to reach the by-line then delivered a cross into the goalmouth where Will Evans, with time and space, wastefully fired the ball over the bar.

But moments afterwards any chance that the Old Gold might possibly stage a late recovery was effectively extinguished.  Following a Cardiff Met corner Lee Surman (who had only been on the field as a substitute for 8 minutes) was sent-off, evidently for an “off-the-ball incident” involving Parker.  While the resulting penalty was squandered by Roscrow, blasting the ball high over the bar, it was not too long before he helped to make victory secure by setting up a third goal.

In the second minute of added time, with Town pressing upfield in the faint hope of snatching a late equaliser, Roscrow broke free along the left-wing and into the penalty area – as Idzi advanced to challenge him he slid the ball across to Parker, completely alone, who had the simple task of firing it into the unguarded net.

A miserable finish to a generally miserable match – it seems to be a very long time ago since the Old Gold were dominating this League Cup competition, winning the trophy twice in successive seasons!!

Town must now very quickly recover and regroup since their next two matches can hardly be more challenging – on Saturday (September 29^thk/o 2.30pm) they visit Connah’s Quay who currently lie second in the WPL, while the following week-end (October 6^thk/o 2.30pm) they entertain perpetual League Champions and current leaders TNS.

Team:

Lee Idzi;  Jordan Vickers (sub Jordan Knott sub 66);  Lewis Baldwin;  Dave Vincent (sub Lee Surman 79);  Tyrrell Webbe (sub Greg Walters 66);  Jay Woodford; Mael Davies;  Declan Carroll;  Liam Thomas; Luke Bowen;  Sean Hanbury;

Unused subs:  Luke Cummings;  Ceri Morgan;

Goal:  Luke Bowen (8);

Cards:  (R) Lee Surman (87).

Twenty years on from the Government of Wales Act 1998, leading members of the judiciary, legal practitioners and academics throughout Wales are set to meet at Aberystwyth University to consider the challenges and opportunities created by devolution.

On Friday 12 October the University’s Department of Law and Criminology hosts the prestigious Annual Legal Wales Conference which is organised under the auspices of the Legal Wales Foundation.

Chaired by the recently appointed Aberystwyth University Fellow, His Honour Judge Milwyn Jarman QC, the conference will feature a session on the work of the Thomas Commission which is reviewing the justice system in Wales.

It will also receive a presentation by the Law Commission of England and Wales on their current work on the law in Wales, and sessions on housing law, agricultural law, adult safeguarding, legal history and information technology law.

Speakers include the Lord Chief Justice for England and Wales, Lord Burnett of Maldon; the Lord President of the Scottish Court of Session, Lord Carloway; the Counsel General for Wales, Jeremy Miles; and Simon Davis, the Vice Chair of the Law Society for England and Wales.

The Chair of the conference, Professor John Williams said: “I am delighted that the Legal Wales Conference is coming to Aberystwyth, the birthplace of legal education in Wales.  Some twenty years after the Government of Wales Act 1998, theConference providesan excellent opportunity for lawyers in Wales to discuss the challenges and opportunities devolution has created. It is a timely opportunity to contribute to the work of Lord Thomas’ Commission on Justice in Wales and to hear more about legal developments withinWales. The University is proud to host the Conference and looks forward to welcoming lawyers from all over Wales, many of whom are graduates of the Law Department.”

Prior to the conference, on Thursday 11 October,a public lecture will be givenby the First Minister, CarwynJones AM who graduated from Aberystwyth’s Law Department. The lecture will take place at 5pm in the Main Hall at the Department of International Politics.

Following the First Minister’s lecture, the Welsh Legal History Society and the National Library will host a lecture and dinner to celebrate “The Legal Treasures of Wales”, including the Boston Manuscript of the Laws of Hywel Dda, purchased by the Library in 2012.  It will take place at the National Library from 6.15pm onwards.

The Legal Wales Foundation was established to address the needs of lawyers working in Wales and promotingthe development of Welsh law.

Aberystwyth University Chancellor, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, and Aberystwyth Fellow Winston Roddick QCwere leading figures in the setting up of Legal Wales.

The 2018 Legal Wales Conference takes place at Aberystwyth University’s Medrus Conference Centre on Friday 12 October and commences at 9.30am.

Places at the conference can be arranged by clicking here.

Links:
Legal Wales
http://legalwales.org/index.html

2018 Legal Wales Conference
http://legalwales.org/conference.html

Department of Law and Criminology at Aberystwyth University
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/als/

Press release from the Hywel Dda University Health Board:

Hywel Dda University Health Board will embark on an ambitious 20-year journey to transform the way we receive health care and support in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and borders, it was decided at a public board meeting held today (Wednesday 26 September).

Eleven recommendations from clinicians (doctors, nurses and a range of healthcare professionals such as health scientists and therapists) were approved and can be read in full here https://bit.ly/2NJxft5.

Headline decisions included:

• more investment will be made in the integration of social care with health and well-being across the seven localities (north and south Ceredigion, north and south Pembrokeshire, Taf/Tywi, Amman/Gwendraeth and Llanelli)
• a hospital model, will be adopted and includes:
  • a business case to be made for a new hospital in the south of Hywel Dda (somewhere between Narberth and St Clears) to provide specialist urgent and emergency care services and planned care
  • hospital services to be retained and developed at Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth, in-line with the Mid Wales Joint Health & Social Care Committee recognising importance of hospital in delivery of services to populations of Ceredigion, Powys and South Gwynedd
  • acute medicine (hospital services that need medical input) to be retained at Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli, following recent modernisation of services developed with the local community and serving a densely populated area
  • re-purposing Glangwili (Carmarthen) and Withybush (Haverfordwest) hospitals to support community health needs including overnight beds, day case procedures, out-patient and walk-in services such as minor injuries and much more

This follows one of the largest local NHS consultations in the UK (Hywel Dda Our Big NHS Change), which was held between April and July, and which saw a huge and passionate response from the local population. Responses included more than 5,400 questionnaires, 4,000 attendees at events and workshops, hundreds of written submissions, five petitions and extensive social media debate.

Board members considered all they heard from patients, staff, the general public and interested organisations, not just during the consultation, but also in the pre-consultation engagement and option development period.

They also considered recommendations made by Hywel Dda Community Health Council, the clinical viewpoint following consultation, and other matters including safety standards the NHS has to meet and the ability to provide services in the future.

Whilst some key decisions were made, the health board received really insightful feedback from people during the consultation and wants to investigate further, and demonstrate, some developments, including:

• commitment to work with people and organisations to develop integrated networks (as opposed to hubs) which are unique to the needs of their community and to consider the geographical areas highlighted in the consultation as gaps in current provision

• work with the community on an early model of the above in Pembrokeshire, focusing on the ability to provide more community based care 24/7 and to demonstrate how it could work and the impact it could have
• work with local people to explore potential for a range of different types of beds within the local community – whether in existing community hospitals, at home or another setting review, test and challenge the model for acute medicine to be responsive to demand and changes in patient flows associated with the whole system change
• work closely with Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board on services where patients could benefit from a regional approach
• examine the opportunities a new hospital and community model could offer maternity and child health services to ensure doctor and midwifery led care, and care for children (paediatrics) and sick babies (neonatal) are maintained within the boundaries of the Hywel Dda area
• align with the transformation work in mental health services to ensure mental health and learning disability assessment and treatment units are provided at the new urgent and planned care hospital
• investigate the practicalities and impacts (through a feasibility study and options appraisal) of locations between Narberth and St Clears for the new hospital
• work with people living and working in the areas furthest from a new hospital to provide additional support for emergency and urgent care (potential to look at things like placing paramedics within in a community as opposed to within a vehicle)
• respond to public anxiety over the ability to manage emergency conditions that are time sensitive (e.g. ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction STEMI, stroke and sepsis) consider the opportunities a new hospital in the south would provide Bronglais Hospital
• work closely with other organisations, including county councils and the third sector, to develop Glangwili and Withybush hospitals
• develop a detailed plan to address concern heard in consultation regarding access, travel, transport and infrastructure, working with the Regional Transport Group, communities (including those with protected characteristics in response to the difficulties we heard about from people and the equality impact assessment) and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust
• formally state the Health Board’s support for building a case for provision of a 24/7 service to bring medics to the scene of an accident (e.g. the Emergency Medical Retrieval Transport Service, which operates 12 hours a day and CHANTS (Neonatal Retrieval Service))
• develop a plan to maximise use of technology in health and care, backed up by secure IT so patient data is safe and joined up between services in the hospital and community
• put in place a staff plan to deliver future models and provide opportunities for staff
• work with education and university partners to train a workforce with the skills and expertise to work in the new service model, and drive research, innovation and evaluation into our service development
• continue to talk the public, staff and interested organisation about all that we do, especially focusing on people with protected characteristics

Chief Executive Steve Moore said: “Today is a hugely momentous day as we confirm we will take a new direction to providing much more preventative and community based healthcare to our population. We’ve heard the concern people have with current healthcare provision and our ability to deliver this sea-change in the years to come but our clinicians have led this work and we believe what has been put before us today offers us the best chance to deal with the fragility our NHS faces and to provide the population with safe, effective care that meets their needs.”

Chair Bernardine Rees added: “We are really grateful to everyone who got involved in our consultation as it has given us really rich feedback. Our ambition is to continue that conversation and input so that we can grow services in our seven localities, using schemes we have already delivered, such as the front of house project at Prince Philip Hospital and Tenby walk-in, as the basis of what can be achieved.”

The next step will be for clinicians and staff to work with the public and other organisations to bring the additional detail together into a draft Health Strategy to put before public Health Board at the end of November.

Medical Director and Director of Clinical Strategy Dr Philip Kloer said: “We’re aware that some people, particularly those who live furthest from the new hospital zone between Narberth and St Clears may be anxious about these changes. They will not happen overnight and we are committed to working with those communities and our partners to demonstrate and test what additional provision can be made, particularly for time-sensitive emergency conditions.

“For example we are working with partners to build the case for the Emergency Medical Retrieval Team (doctors who are brought to the scene to treat and then transfer) and CHANTS (the Neonatal Retrieval Team) to be a 24-hour service, and also investigating the potential to place advanced paramedics in communities so they are available solely to that community.

“Another important factor in providing life-saving treatment is getting people quickly to the definitive hospital which will provide their care. At the moment, people in our coastal areas of Pembrokeshire have to travel to Glangwili for some treatment, which in the future, we will be able to offer at a more equitable location, for the south of Hywel Dda, in the new hospital zone.”

The new hospital will be dependent also on a full business case, which will be made to the Welsh Government.

See earlier posts on this topic on this website and Blog.