Heart patients lose local care (From Western Telegraph)

Heart patients lose local care

Withybush hospital patients now have to travel to Swansea for pacemaker checks after the Swansea NHS Trust decided to centralise the service.

One patient affected is retired architect Paul Andrews, of Treffgarne. He said: "In February I attended a clinic at Withybush where my pacemaker was checked and regulated, only to be told that this would be my last local appointment.

"From now on all pacemaker checks will be carried out at Morriston Hospital, Swansea."

Mr Andrews said the health authority should consider the 120-mile return journey all patients face while two staff remain static.

"At Withybush I was able to park with my disabled badge, and I was seen on time by efficient and cheerful staff, who on that particular day dealt with over 30 patients. Presuming the change is being made for financial reasons, how can it be more efficient for these 30 patients, together with a spouse or carer, some without private transport, to have to travel to Morriston instead of two people travelling to Haverfordwest?

"Plus on arriving in Swansea, patients are faced with horrendous parking difficulties.

"These patients have health problems whereas staff are fit and well and able to travel easily," he added.

A Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust spokesman said: "The pacemaker service is a visiting service from Morriston Hospital through the Swansea NHS Trust. We have received a letter from the Trust advising us that they wish to stop pacemaker clinics at Withybush from March 31st.

"We are in discussion with Health Commission Wales to try to secure a local service. We have had no response to date bit we will be continuing with those discussions."

Nick Bourne, Welsh Assembly Tory leader and mid and west Wales AM, condemned the decision to close the pacemaker check-up units at Withybush - and also at Carmarthen and Aberystwyth hospitals.

"Patients will face long journeys to access these check-ups, particularly if they have to rely on public transport. I have written to the health minister to protest about this plan which represents another disgraceful attempt to downgrade NHS services in mid and west Wales."