Hopes are rising that the operating hours of the minor injuries clinic at Cardigan’s Integrated Health Centre could be re-established over weekends following a spirited campaign by local councillors.
Earlier this year Welsh Government funded a pilot scheme for a 50-day trial period at the Rhodfa’r Felin-based centre in a bid to ease pressure off Accident and Emergency units at Bronglais and Glangwili Hospitals which were said to have the worst waiting times in Wales.
But the ending of the arrangement on March 30 sparked widespread protest and the setting up of an online petition that drew more than 2,500 signatures.
“The ICC has been a wonderful facility,” Cardigan town mayor Councillor Olwen Davies told colleagues at the time.
“Living where we do, we have to travel thirty miles to reach an A&E department. With the holiday season coming, I think this weekend service was a vital resource for the town.”
But now a social media post by local MS Elin Jones this week has fuelled speculation that health chiefs may be poised to announce the weekend service at Cardigan will be made permanent sometime in the near future.
“Just had a letter confirming the seven-day emergency care at Cardigan will become permanent,” she wrote on Facebook. “Well done to all who have campaigned on this.”
However, in an apologetic follow-up post just hours later Ms Jones admitted she may have been ‘jumping the gun’.
“I have just taken a phone call from the Hywel Dda Health Board to say that the seven-day opening is not finally decided and is subject to a board meeting discussion hopefully at the end of September,” she explained.
“Seems I was too optimistic in my interpretation of their letter. They’ve apologised to me. Campaign continues to get the right decision.
“I'm sorry for raising hopes too much.”
However, the disclosure has boosted hopes that The Same Day Emergency Care trial of weekend working could indeed lead to a more permanent service in the coming weeks.
Councillor Clive Davies – who had previously urged Cardigan Town Council to send a letter to the Welsh Government saying the pilot scheme had been ‘working well’ until its allocated funding ran out – responded cautiously.
“Subject to a health board meeting maybe at the end of September, we may get this service seven days a week,” he told his Facebook followers.
Speaking back in March, Councillor Davies suggested that potential injuries arising from football or rugby matches over the weekend was something health chiefs would have to consider when weighing up whether to introduce a seven-day service.
“Another point worth considering are the number of patients who attend from all over the area,” he added.
Praising the ICC staff at Cardigan, Councillor Teresa Harries said: “They are brilliant – I’ve had to take people down there and I’ve had to go there several times myself.
“We should definitely try and get the weekend service back.”
Cardigan councillors subsequently agreed to lobby First Minister Eluned Morgan along with her fellow West Wales MS colleagues Cefin Campbell, Elin Jones and Joyce Watson.
Hywel Dda University Health Board confirmed that during the first seven weekends of the trial period, the service saw 845 patients, around 75 per cent of whom otherwise would have attended an emergency department at Bronglais or Glangwili.
“The seven-day working model also facilitated the trial of a Digital Ward model of care,” they said in a statement.
“Over two months, 63 patients were ‘virtually admitted’ and received care closer to home, showcasing the potential for innovative healthcare solutions.”
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