Call for county to fight health cuts (From Western Telegraph)

Call for county to fight health cuts

Any attempts to cut services at Withybush Hospital will be met with fierce resistance.

A warning shot across the bows has been given by campaigners who fought against previous attempts to relocate orthopaedics, paediatrics, and A & E to Carmarthen, and cut back geriatric beds.

With a review of services in the pipeline, and fears that maternity and obstetrics may eventually move to Glangwili Hospital, many people recall the formation in the 1970s of HAWC - Hospital Action Watchdog Committee.

Patrick Jones, former Liberal Democrat candidate, then chief biomedical analyst at the hospital, said: "Pembrokeshire people were determined to save their health services and I am sure they will be prepared to do so again.

"With all the development planned for the county it is vital to have an effective A & E, backed by all the services. A time may come when Pembrokeshire people will have to stand up again and fight any cutbacks."

Gynaecologist Dr Chris Overton was suspended from his post for whistleblowing, after he alerted the public about the closure of the gynaecology ward and possible threats to other hospital services.

He has not been allowed back to work, although it is understood investigations have been completed.

And he has still not been given a date for a disciplinary hearing.

Dr Overton has received massive support from fellow consultants, medical and hospital staff and the general public, who have defended his right to freedom of speech and shared some of his concerns.

In an unprecedented move, 12 consultants at the hospital sent a signed letter to the Western Telegraph.

They raise the question of permanent bed losses at the hospital - an issue highlighted by Dr Overton - and the pressure this has put on wards.

Previously, over 100 staff declared their support for Dr Overton in a signed letter to the trust's chief executive Frank O'Sullivan.

The Western Telegraph has received many other letters of support for Dr Overton and also a petition containing names, addresses and signatures of 281 people from all corners of the county.

The petition says: "We support the fact Dr Overton felt it was the right of the local people to be informed of the plans to close the gynaecology ward at Withybush Hospital, which could then, possibly, result in the deterioration of women's services locally.

"He was right to bring this to the attention of the people of Pembrokeshire. In fact, it was his public duty and that of a caring doctor."

Concerns have also been raised that Dr Overton should have been suspended over a non-clinical issue. The trust could have submitted the case to the National Clinical Assessment Authority.

When asked why this had not been done and how much it has cost to provide a locum and in management time, the trust said it could not comment further 'as this was the subject of internal trust proceedings'.

* A further step forward has been taken towards proposed re-provision of the A & E department at Withybush Hospital.

A National Assembly spokesman confirmed that the trust's outline business case was considered at last Tuesday's (25th) meeting of the Capital Investment Board.

"The board approved this stage of the business case process and the trust has subsequently been advised it can progress to prepare its full business case.

At this stage, the programmed funding for the scheme is estimated to be £6.1m and is subject to successful approval of the full business case.