Hospital's brain doctor shortage

Neurosurgery treats nervous disorders of the brain and spine

Crisis talks are being held over a shortage of doctors in the neurosurgery department of one of Wales' busiest hospitals.

Trust bosses have said Morriston Hospital in Swansea only has three middle-grade doctors instead of seven due to a recruitment shortage.

It is seeking to pool resources with University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff until more staff can be found.

Swansea's Singleton Hospital has closed children's wards for the same reason.

Morriston successfully battled plans to end adult neurosurgery services there two years ago, and Health Minister Edwina Hart has said she is committed to continuing neurosurgery services in Swansea through a networked service.

However South West Wales AM Peter Black, who took part in the campaign to retain the service at Morriston, is still concerned the unit could close.

Some elements of the complex surgery will need to be provided in Cardiff until this crisis resolves

Bruce Ferguson, ABM University Trust

He raised the issue in the Senedd on Tuesday.

Bruce Ferguson, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Trust's medical director, said the trust would be facing an acute problem in August, when the number of middle-grade doctors would drop again temporarily to two.

He went on: "Because of this, we are holding urgent talks with colleagues in Cardiff, aimed at pooling our neurosurgical resources, and through enhancing our network arrangements, continue to provide safe emergency and elective services in south Wales.

"Whilst the majority of neurosurgical services will continue to be provided in Swansea, some elements of the complex surgery will need to be provided in Cardiff until this crisis resolves.

"ABM is continuing to do all it can to recruit more middle-grade neurosurgical doctors."

A spokesman for the Welsh Assembly Government said about future plans for Morriston's neurological services: "The health minister has put a process in place to consider the James Steers' report for Mid and South Wales and to develop an implementation plan for its recommendations.

"As part of this plan, we expect the services provided in Swansea to play a critical role as part of a network of enhanced high-quality neuroscience services to meet the needs of patients."

He acknowledged there was a shortage of middle-grade doctors across the UK in specialised areas such as neurosurgery, adding the trust was considering the short term measures it needed to take to ensure "safe and effective in-patient" services.

Immigration rules

Last week, Singleton Hospital closed two children's wards and transferred in-patient paediatric services to Morriston, citing a shortage of experienced middle-grade paediatric doctors in the UK.

From August, only 10 doctors rather than the required 18 will be available for on-call rota at the hospital.

The hospital said that shortage was linked to the way UK doctors are trained and the number of hours they can legally work.

In addition, they also pointed to changes in immigration rules governing whether foreign doctors are allowed into the UK.

Subsequently, Edwina Hart wrote to the Home Office to ask for a review of the rules in relation to doctors and assembly government officials have met the UK Border Agency to clarify the rules.