Elin Jones MS has welcomed the fact that both original stroke consultation options were rejected by the Health Board at its meeting this morning. However, an alternative option is now likely to be proposed.
The majority of the board voted in favour of the Merged Option 106/210 for stroke services in Hywel Dda area, which would see a Treat and Transfer and Stroke rehabilitation unit at Bronglais, with the specialist stroke unit in Glangwili in Carmarthen, rather than Prince Phillip Hospital in Llanelli.
Responding to the decision Elin Jones MS said:
“There is now considerable confusion around what may be proposed for stroke patients at Bronglais. Whilst Glangwili now seems likely to be the location of the Board’s main Stroke Unit rather than Llanelli, it’s less certain what the Rehabilitation service proposed for Bronglais will entail. People in the Teifi Valley will be much better served by a Glanwgili Unit rather than face transfer to Llanelli.
However, for Bronglais, the Treat and Transfer Model remains in the new proposal, and no clarity has been proposed on how a safe and dedicated model of transfer for very ill stroke patients will be guaranteed. People will also want to know what a longer-term rehabilitation service at Bronglais will look like.
At the very least we need now to get a detailed alternative proposal from the Health Board and there needs to be a meaningful formal consultation on the new proposal. This time it also needs to have a detailed plan for how ambulance transfer would be achieved.”