“I know that I speak for large numbers of local residents when I applaud the Community Health Council (CHC) for using their powers to refer the Hywel Dda’s plans to the Welsh Government. I know that they will not have done this lightly, but very much as a last resort. Back in October the CHC said in their response to Hywel Dda’s consultation document “that more robust consultant/doctor led A&E facilities should be reinstated at Prince Philip Hospital at the earliest opportunity given the town’s large population.” It would have been much better if the Hywel Dda Health Board had rethought their plans then, and it is a real concern that the Hywel Dda Health Board has not listened. As the statutory body which represents the interests of patients and the public, the Community Health Council are quite right to demand services in Llanelli that are on a par with those available elsewhere in the Board’s area.”
Response by the Community Health Council to the Hywel Dda Health Board’ s Consultation October 2012
“We support the retention of full A&E services at each of the 3 existing district general hospitals. We are also strongly opposed to any further diminution of emergency care services at PPH Llanelli. We believe that more robust consultant/doctor led A&E facilities should be reinstated there at the earliest opportunity given the town’s large population, the wide catchment area, plus associated areas of deprivation. We note the significant public support for such a facility in the town, including a petition with in excess of 30,000 signatures plus the support from local councils. Importantly we are also cognisant of the strong views expressed by clinicians in the hospital and also of the GPs who support this service currently and who believe that any lesser service will be unsafe. In these circumstances we are of the considered opinion that PPH should now have a full range of A&E facilities comparable to the services provided within the other 3 hospitals in the region.”