GLANGWILI Hospital and Withybush Hospital will both be downgraded under plans revealed by the health board today.

Hywel Dda Health Board has launched a 12-week consultation on its proposals to radically overhaul how care is delivered across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.

Plans to build a new major urgent and planned care hospital between Narberth and St Clears are at the heart of all three options put forward by board members this morning (April 19).

In all three of the proposals, Bronglais District General Hospital will continue to provide services for mid Wales; a new major hospital will be built somewhere between Narberth and St Clears, and there will be 10 community hubs across the Health Board area.

The proposals are:

Proposal A

  • A new urgent care and planned care hospital between Narberth and St Clears

  • Community hospitals in Glangwili, Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and Withybush

  • A general hospital in Aberystwyth on the Bronglais Hospital site

Proposal B

  • A new urgent care and planned care hospital between Narberth and St Clears

  • Community hospitals in Glangwili and Withybush

  • General hospitals at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and Aberystwyth on the Bronglais Hospital site

Proposal C

  • A new urgent care hospital between Narberth and St Clears

  • A planned care hospital on Glangwili site

  • A community hospital in Withybush

  • General hospitals at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and Aberystwyth on the Bronglais Hospital site

The board says the consultation is a "once-in-a-lifetime chance to fundamentally change the way that we provide local healthcare services for the better".

It proposes separating acute and community care, in a bid to keep people closer to home, and out of hospital wherever possible.

The options all see a move towards 'community hubs', that would bring together staff from health, social care, the voluntary sector and other agencies.

These hubs could include access to tests and scans, including x-rays, outpatient appointments and clinics, preventative care, and overnight stay for those who can't be cared for at home, but don't need to stay in hospital.

Dr John Morgan, of the Community Health Council (CHC), said it was inevitable that a lot of people would focus on the changes to hospitals but pleaded with the public to 'look at the whole system'.

He said 'using a sticking plaster' to fix Hywel Dda's problems was not an option, and welcomed this radical overhaul, which he said would hopefully deliver the services the people of Hywel Dda deserve.

But, he emphasised that if investment in community services did not proceed as planned, they would put changes to the acute sector in jeopardy.

He urged the public to get involved and have their say.

Hywel Dda’s executive medical director and director of clinical strategy, Dr Phil Kloer, added: “The challenges we face are really significant. People are living longer, some with long lasting health conditions, and we expect there to be many more older people who will need regular health care and social care.

“In our area some people live in towns and some in country areas, making it difficult for us to ensure that services are in the right place for people to access.

“Many people live a long way from services, so helping people to live at home while they have treatment can involve a lot of travel for health workers.

“We know that people want to be supported to manage their health in their own homes - about four out of every 10 hospital beds are filled by people who could be treated at home.

“Added to this is the fact that we’re finding it hard to get enough permanent staff, especially specialist medical staff, to come and work for us, and we also need to make fuller use of new technology such as computers, phones, telehealth and telecare.

“This is why we have come up with three proposals that we think are safe, viable and offer an improvement on what we currently have, and have launched a formal 12-week consultation.”

To have your say:

  • Complete the online questionnaire at: www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs/hddchange

  • Email hyweldda.engagement@wales.nhs.uk

  • Telephone 01554 899 056

  • Go to one of the drop-in events. One will be held in Cardigan Guildhall on Friday, May 4 from 2pm-7pm.