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Wales Online
12 hours ago
- General
- Wales Online
Uncertainty over future of services at two North Wales hospitals 'unfair' on staff
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Hospital staff are being left "twisting in the wind" amid the uncertain future of two community hospitals which have seen "temporary" closures of inpatient beds. The loss of services at Tywyn and Penley Community Hospitals had both sparked local concerns. The Dyfi Ward at Tywyn, in Gwynedd, saw the "temporary" measures imposed more than two years ago due to a shortage of trained nursing staff. Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday The closure of inpatient beds in April 2023 followed repeated attempts to recruit and a "heavy reliance" on agency staff. At Penley in Wrexham, the interim closures caused an outcry after coming just before Christmas, in December 2024. A Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board [BCUHB] report said the closures were due to concerns over the "sustainability" of the care model, a very limited number of patients suitable for the type of care in the setting, and reliance on temporary staff. The report recognised that staff "have and continue to face uncertainty" amid the ongoing service review. The report aimed to set out proposals for developing longer term solutions relating to Tywyn and Penley Hospitals. The health board said further discussions and consultation would be carried out over this year, with final recommendations coming in December. Gareth Williams, the health board's vice chairman, told a meeting last week that staff on temporary contracts were being treated "unfairly" because of the situation, and said it went against the board's principle of "fair work". Kamala Williams, BCUHB's head of health strategy and planning, told the meeting that the re-opening the beds at Tywyn and Penley had not been ruled out. But the health board was "duty bound" to consider other ways of delivering safe, sustainable and high-quality services that met the needs of the respective local communities, she said. An ongoing process to "identify sustainable solutions" was underway, with engagements, regular briefings and follow up sessions with Llais, an independent body representing patients, and community representatives. Since the Tywyn closure, inpatient bed capacity at Dolgellau Hospital had risen from 14 to 18 beds, staff had been redeployed to Tuag Adref (Homeward Bound) community service and a new Treatment Room established. A now five-day-a-week Minor Injuries Unit had reopened and a Wellbeing Hub supported health promotion and community engagement. Recruitment at Tywyn had also been "successful" but the report noted: "Workforce skill mix, retention and resilience still remained with significant issues preventing the reopening of the ward safely, sustainably and without likely detriment to the other clinical and community services provided at the hospital". A public engagement and meeting had been attended by over 100 residents and senior health board leaders. Updates had also been given to MSs and MPs, a recruitment campaign held and a health board-led workshop carried out. A public forum by Llais had highlighted "strong support" for accessible, locally delivered care and locals had expressed concern over the loss of inpatient services. At Penley, staff meetings were being convened regularly to "ensure staff were informed of developments," a stakeholder mapping workshop session was held in May, and a Llais 'drop in' session was planned for June. The health board's vice chairman said he felt they should "not just say they were in favour of 'fair work' but demonstrate it". He said: "Time after time, when I go round this organisation, I find staff being treated unfairly, in terms of those on short term contracts, where it is said, 'oh, we will extend it for three months, we might make a decision then'. "That's really letting people down, people with mortgages and other responsibilities, it's like leaving them to twist in the wind, while we decide what we are doing. "It is not acceptable if we say we are committed to fair work. But we are starting to make progress." Health board chair Dyfed Edwards added: "Principles are only worth something if we live them." Speaking after the meeting, Geoff Ryall-Harvey, regional director of the north Wales region for Llais, said: "Both Tywyn and Penley are important local services, local people are very concerned about the loss of these beds and it is vital that BCUHB listen to local concerns." Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
North Wales Live
14 hours ago
- Health
- North Wales Live
Uncertainty over future of services at two North Wales hospitals 'unfair' on staff
Hospital staff are being left "twisting in the wind" amid the uncertain future of two community hospitals which have seen "temporary" closures of inpatient beds. The loss of services at Tywyn and Penley Community Hospitals had both sparked local concerns. The Dyfi Ward at Tywyn, in Gwynedd, saw the "temporary" measures imposed more than two years ago due to a shortage of trained nursing staff. Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday The closure of inpatient beds in April 2023 followed repeated attempts to recruit and a "heavy reliance" on agency staff. At Penley in Wrexham, the interim closures caused an outcry after coming just before Christmas, in December 2024. A Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board [BCUHB] report said the closures were due to concerns over the "sustainability" of the care model, a very limited number of patients suitable for the type of care in the setting, and reliance on temporary staff. The report recognised that staff "have and continue to face uncertainty" amid the ongoing service review. The report aimed to set out proposals for developing longer term solutions relating to Tywyn and Penley Hospitals. The health board said further discussions and consultation would be carried out over this year, with final recommendations coming in December. Gareth Williams, the health board's vice chairman, told a meeting last week that staff on temporary contracts were being treated "unfairly" because of the situation, and said it went against the board's principle of "fair work". Kamala Williams, BCUHB's head of health strategy and planning, told the meeting that the re-opening the beds at Tywyn and Penley had not been ruled out. But the health board was "duty bound" to consider other ways of delivering safe, sustainable and high-quality services that met the needs of the respective local communities, she said. An ongoing process to "identify sustainable solutions" was underway, with engagements, regular briefings and follow up sessions with Llais, an independent body representing patients, and community representatives. Since the Tywyn closure, inpatient bed capacity at Dolgellau Hospital had risen from 14 to 18 beds, staff had been redeployed to Tuag Adref (Homeward Bound) community service and a new Treatment Room established. A now five-day-a-week Minor Injuries Unit had reopened and a Wellbeing Hub supported health promotion and community engagement. Recruitment at Tywyn had also been "successful" but the report noted: "Workforce skill mix, retention and resilience still remained with significant issues preventing the reopening of the ward safely, sustainably and without likely detriment to the other clinical and community services provided at the hospital". A public engagement and meeting had been attended by over 100 residents and senior health board leaders. Updates had also been given to MSs and MPs, a recruitment campaign held and a health board-led workshop carried out. A public forum by Llais had highlighted "strong support" for accessible, locally delivered care and locals had expressed concern over the loss of inpatient services. At Penley, staff meetings were being convened regularly to "ensure staff were informed of developments," a stakeholder mapping workshop session was held in May, and a Llais 'drop in' session was planned for June. The health board's vice chairman said he felt they should "not just say they were in favour of 'fair work' but demonstrate it". He said: "Time after time, when I go round this organisation, I find staff being treated unfairly, in terms of those on short term contracts, where it is said, 'oh, we will extend it for three months, we might make a decision then'. "That's really letting people down, people with mortgages and other responsibilities, it's like leaving them to twist in the wind, while we decide what we are doing. "It is not acceptable if we say we are committed to fair work. But we are starting to make progress." Health board chair Dyfed Edwards added: "Principles are only worth something if we live them."
North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Former nurse removes cyst from eye after three-year wait
The dangerous procedure was revealed in a report looking at the long delays facing people awaiting treatment for conditions in North Wales. The Citizen Experiences Report, presented during a meeting of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on Thursday, found frustrated patients were taking matters into their own hands due to long waits for help. It also described long waits experienced by patients in the emergency departments at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Ysbyty Wrexham Maelor, and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Patients waiting up to 36 hours had been reported and 'overcrowding, uncertainty, and discomfort' were also 'common concerns'. The public consultation had been part of a 'listening and understanding' initiative aimed at improving the design and delivery of care and services. There had been 300 enquiries from MPs and MSs over their constituents' experiences, with waiting times 'the main focus'. One had described a former nurse, now 84, who had been placed on the ophthalmology waiting list in June 2019, but who had waited around three years until being seen. 'She says that she then had some procedures which did not help, and eventually removed a cyst on her eye herself,' the report quoted. 'She is waiting for an eye operation, which was requested in October 2023, and her eyesight is deteriorating rapidly. 'As a former nurse and nurse manager, she has given her working life to care for other people. Now she needs some care of her own.' Another concerned a man who wished to enlist with the British Army, but was unable to because of the health of his teeth. The report said: 'He has not been able to find an NHS dentist nearby due to a chronic shortage of dentists in North Wales, and private dentists have quoted a minimum of £3,000 for treatment.' Waiting had also had a 'catastrophic impact' on one patient's life who suffered daily pain, and another, awaiting an operation for bladder stones, endured 'continual bleeding'. Community conversations also highlighted issues over outpatient waiting times, access to services, ambulance and emergency department delays, and communication. Llais, the body which gives people a 'voice', when accessing health services, had also gathered data. Comments included 'significant challenges' accessing timely and affordable primary care, difficulty accessing GP appointments and the absence or loss of NHS dental provision. Delayed treatment or self-management of dental problems had manifested 'sometimes in unsafe or distressing ways'. Comments included: 'I ended up filling my own tooth with a kit from the chemist.' Another patient reported waiting: '12 hours in a corridor on a trolley.' Long delays for specialist services, including audiology, cataract surgery, neuro-developmental assessment, and respiratory care were also ' a major concern'. The meeting heard that despite many views highlighting 'dissatisfaction or frustration', many other participants had also expressed 'gratitude' and praise for the 'professionalism and compassion' by hospital staff, members and teams. The report also described measures taken by the board to address calls for improvements. In dental care this included creating contracts worth over £1.5 million to expand NHS dental provision. Further procurement exercises, covering general dental services, orthodontics, oral surgery, and non-urgent access, also totalled over £5 million. MOST READ A new dental access portal, launched in February, was also helping 'simplify and centralise' access to care. Improvements to areas such as emergency departments, dermatology, gynaecology, physiotherapy musculoskeletal, cancer services, and a midwifery ward bereavement suite had also been implemented. In neuro-developmental services, providing mental health support for children and young people, a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) improvement programme was in place. The new Crisis Hub – Alternatives to Admission – service had also supported 266 people in its first quarter since opening in February. The board acknowledged that 'significant work' remained to address 'challenges' in a 'sustainable, long-term way'.
Rhyl Journal
2 days ago
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
Former nurse removes cyst from eye after three-year wait
The dangerous procedure was revealed in a report looking at the long delays facing people awaiting treatment for conditions in North Wales. The Citizen Experiences Report, presented during a meeting of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on Thursday, found frustrated patients were taking matters into their own hands due to long waits for help. It also described long waits experienced by patients in the emergency departments at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Ysbyty Wrexham Maelor, and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Patients waiting up to 36 hours had been reported and 'overcrowding, uncertainty, and discomfort' were also 'common concerns'. The public consultation had been part of a 'listening and understanding' initiative aimed at improving the design and delivery of care and services. There had been 300 enquiries from MPs and MSs over their constituents' experiences, with waiting times 'the main focus'. One had described a former nurse, now 84, who had been placed on the ophthalmology waiting list in June 2019, but who had waited around three years until being seen. 'She says that she then had some procedures which did not help, and eventually removed a cyst on her eye herself,' the report quoted. 'She is waiting for an eye operation, which was requested in October 2023, and her eyesight is deteriorating rapidly. 'As a former nurse and nurse manager, she has given her working life to care for other people. Now she needs some care of her own.' Another concerned a man who wished to enlist with the British Army, but was unable to because of the health of his teeth. The report said: 'He has not been able to find an NHS dentist nearby due to a chronic shortage of dentists in North Wales, and private dentists have quoted a minimum of £3,000 for treatment.' Waiting had also had a 'catastrophic impact' on one patient's life who suffered daily pain, and another, awaiting an operation for bladder stones, endured 'continual bleeding'. Community conversations also highlighted issues over outpatient waiting times, access to services, ambulance and emergency department delays, and communication. Llais, the body which gives people a 'voice', when accessing health services, had also gathered data. Comments included 'significant challenges' accessing timely and affordable primary care, difficulty accessing GP appointments and the absence or loss of NHS dental provision. Delayed treatment or self-management of dental problems had manifested 'sometimes in unsafe or distressing ways'. Comments included: 'I ended up filling my own tooth with a kit from the chemist.' Another patient reported waiting: '12 hours in a corridor on a trolley.' Long delays for specialist services, including audiology, cataract surgery, neuro-developmental assessment, and respiratory care were also ' a major concern'. The meeting heard that despite many views highlighting 'dissatisfaction or frustration', many other participants had also expressed 'gratitude' and praise for the 'professionalism and compassion' by hospital staff, members and teams. The report also described measures taken by the board to address calls for improvements. In dental care this included creating contracts worth over £1.5 million to expand NHS dental provision. Further procurement exercises, covering general dental services, orthodontics, oral surgery, and non-urgent access, also totalled over £5 million. MOST READ A new dental access portal, launched in February, was also helping 'simplify and centralise' access to care. Improvements to areas such as emergency departments, dermatology, gynaecology, physiotherapy musculoskeletal, cancer services, and a midwifery ward bereavement suite had also been implemented. In neuro-developmental services, providing mental health support for children and young people, a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) improvement programme was in place. The new Crisis Hub – Alternatives to Admission – service had also supported 266 people in its first quarter since opening in February. The board acknowledged that 'significant work' remained to address 'challenges' in a 'sustainable, long-term way'.
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Health
- Leader Live
Former nurse removes cyst from her eye after years on waiting list
The dangerous procedure was revealed in a report looking at the long delays facing people awaiting treatment for conditions in North Wales. The Citizen Experiences Report, presented during a meeting of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on Thursday, found frustrated patients were taking matters into their own hands due to long waits for help. It also described long waits experienced by patients in the emergency departments at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Ysbyty Wrexham Maelor, and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Patients waiting up to 36 hours had been reported and 'overcrowding, uncertainty, and discomfort' were also 'common concerns'. The public consultation had been part of a 'listening and understanding' initiative aimed at improving the design and delivery of care and services. There had been 300 enquiries from MPs and MSs over their constituents' experiences, with waiting times 'the main focus'. One had described a former nurse, now 84, who had been placed on the ophthalmology waiting list in June 2019, but who had waited around three years until being seen. 'She says that she then had some procedures which did not help, and eventually removed a cyst on her eye herself,' the report quoted. 'She is waiting for an eye operation, which was requested in October 2023, and her eyesight is deteriorating rapidly. 'As a former nurse and nurse manager, she has given her working life to care for other people. Now she needs some care of her own.' Another concerned a man who wished to enlist with the British Army, but was unable to because of the health of his teeth. The report said: 'He has not been able to find an NHS dentist nearby due to a chronic shortage of dentists in North Wales, and private dentists have quoted a minimum of £3,000 for treatment.' Waiting had also had a 'catastrophic impact' on one patient's life who suffered daily pain, and another, awaiting an operation for bladder stones, endured 'continual bleeding'. Community conversations also highlighted issues over outpatient waiting times, access to services, ambulance and emergency department delays, and communication. Llais, the body which gives people a 'voice', when accessing health services, had also gathered data. Comments included 'significant challenges' accessing timely and affordable primary care, difficulty accessing GP appointments and the absence or loss of NHS dental provision. Delayed treatment or self-management of dental problems had manifested 'sometimes in unsafe or distressing ways'. Comments included: 'I ended up filling my own tooth with a kit from the chemist.' Another patient reported waiting: '12 hours in a corridor on a trolley.' Long delays for specialist services, including audiology, cataract surgery, neuro-developmental assessment, and respiratory care were also ' a major concern'. The meeting heard that despite many views highlighting 'dissatisfaction or frustration', many other participants had also expressed 'gratitude' and praise for the 'professionalism and compassion' by hospital staff, members and teams. The report also described measures taken by the board to address calls for improvements. In dental care this included creating contracts worth over £1.5 million to expand NHS dental provision. Further procurement exercises, covering general dental services, orthodontics, oral surgery, and non-urgent access, also totalled over £5 million. MOST READ A new dental access portal, launched in February, was also helping 'simplify and centralise' access to care. Improvements to areas such as emergency departments, dermatology, gynaecology, physiotherapy musculoskeletal, cancer services, and a midwifery ward bereavement suite had also been implemented. In neuro-developmental services, providing mental health support for children and young people, a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) improvement programme was in place. The new Crisis Hub – Alternatives to Admission – service had also supported 266 people in its first quarter since opening in February. The board acknowledged that 'significant work' remained to address 'challenges' in a 'sustainable, long-term way'.
