Brain surgery move made permanent

Health Minister Edwina Hart agreed the report's surgery recommendations

Brain surgery patients from mid and west Wales will be treated at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales (UHW), Health Minister Edwina Hart has agreed.

It follows the collapse of brain surgery services in Morriston Hospital, Swansea, during the summer.

But spinal surgery for patients in mid and south Wales will continue at Morriston after an experts' report.

A second report covering north Wales said patients will receive more care, and rehabilitation at local hospitals.

Health Minister Edwina Hart said the recommendations would be implemented by the health boards in Wales.

The findings of the South Wales Neuroscience Implementation Group mean both neurosurgery centres in Cardiff and Swansea will remain.

In July, emergency neurosurgery was transferred solely to Cardiff due to staffing problems, and the report's findings consolidate this arrangement.

NHS Wales chief executive Paul Williams said the plan for the area was backed unanimously by all neurosurgeons working in mid and south Wales.

While there will be an integration and movement of services between the two sites, we will maintain and sustain both centres for the benefits of patients and staff Paul Williams, chief executive, NHS Wales

He said additional neurologists would be recruited, surgeons would be able to increase their expertise and services would be strengthened under the plans.

"Surgeons at both centres (UHW and Morriston) have been working closely since July and this will be maintained," he said.

"Complex inter-cranial neurosurgery will continue at the University Hospital of Wales but any pre- and post-operative care will be carried out at Morriston Hospital.

"However, more patients from mid and west Wales who require spinal surgery will go to Morriston instead of travelling to UHW as at present.

"While there will be an integration and movement of services between the two sites, we will maintain and sustain both centres for the benefits of patients and staff."

Enhanced services

Mr Williams said under the plan for north Wales, patients would continue to receive neurosurgery at the Walton Centre in Liverpool but would also receive more neurological care, support and rehabilitation at local hospitals in Wales, reducing the need for travel.

The enhanced services will be available at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd at Bodelwyddan, Ysbyty Gwynedd Bangor, and Wrexham Maelor Hospital, he said.

"This will provide an enhanced medical neurology service with improved neurological input into stroke management, neurorehabilitation and neurophysiology," he said.

"This will improve greatly access to care for people with Parkinson's disease, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis and stroke."

The Wales Neurological Alliance, which is comprised of 25 voluntary organisations representing people and families affected by neurological conditions, welcomed the announcement.

Alliance chair Judi Rhys said: "The report stresses the importance of multi-disciplinary teams with improved local access for patients which are supported by excellent specialist centres.

It's disappointing, I had campaigned to keep it, but I think the positive from today is that some neurosurgery will stay at Morriston Dr Dai Lloyd, South West Wales Plaid Cymru AM

"The Wales Neurological Alliance see this as the best way of improving services for the 100,000 people affected by neurological conditions."

Ms Hart said she had sent the reports to the chairs of the health boards in Wales to implement the recommendations.

The NHS in north Wales and north Powys welcomed the plan.

Dr Paul Birch, from the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: "We will be able to achieve our objectives through reorganisation of existing services, for other areas new investment will be required in additional staff and new facilities.

"This means that changes will be introduced in a phased programme."

South West Wales Plaid Cymru AM Dr Dai Lloyd, who has campaigned to keep emergency neurosurgery at Morriston Hospital, said circumstances had dictated the minister's decision.

"The emergency service was de facto moved to Cardiff three months ago because of staff shortages, and I think today's announcement was probably inevitable as a result of that.

"It's disappointing, I had campaigned to keep it, but I think the positive from today is that some neurosurgery will stay at Morriston, which protects its level one trauma status, including the burns and plastics department."

Trauma centre

Liberal Democrat Peter Black said Ms Hart had broken her promise to retain emergency neurosurgery at both Morriston Hospital and UHW.

"The health minister now must answer questions on the impact of the Neurosciences Implementation Report on Morriston Hospital and the future of the trauma centre currently being developed there," he said.

Conservative Alun Cairns said his party had always recognised that a two-centre operative option for neurosurgery in south Wales was not viable.

"The debate has always been about whether that should be in Swansea or Cardiff," he said.

"The minister has denied us that debate and even ignored her own expert advisers.

"The minister has repeatedly promised to do one thing then done something completely different throughout this whole saga.

"What patients and clinicians need is clarity and certainty from the minister to ensure their best interests are taken into account at all times."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version