11:49am Thursday 6th September 2007
Plans to merge Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust with two other trusts at the start of April next year are gaining pace.
Health chiefs from Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust, Carmarthen NHS Trust and Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS Trust, have opened discussions about the proposed merger.
As part of the consultation process, the case for merger has been presented to staff organisations and Community Health Councils by the joint project board responsible for developing the proposals.
Chief officer of Pembrokeshire Community Health Council, Ashley Warlow, said: "We will carefully consider this proposal but will need to be assured that there are to be real benefits to the patients of Pembrokeshire.
"We have repeatedly said a merger should only occur in an evolutionary manner and that form should follow function.
"Three thousand people attended public meetings last year and upon being questioned in respect of this proposed merger, formally objected to it. Nothing has changed since that time and there has not been any meaningful improvement in the delivery of enhanced community services, arguably, therefore, the time is still not right." A document entitled Proposed Three Counties NHS Trust - start date April 1st, 2008', has been obtained by former Pembrokeshire county councillor, Dave Edwards, and stresses the importance of merging the trusts as soon as possible.
It states: "The project is time critical and needs to be implemented by April 1st, 2008."
Mr Edwards, a former leader of the council's Labour group, said: "If this goes ahead, Withybush Hospital's ability to look after its own interests will be gone because all the budgets will be amalgamated.
"There will only be two representatives on this Dyfed board and our experience of Dyfed things in the past is investment follows population and there are more people living in Carmarthen than there are in Pembrokeshire."
Project board chairman Meirion Hughes said the board is conscious there will be many questions about the proposals so arrangements are being made to keep staff, partner organisations, patients and the public up to date with developments.
Mr Hughes added: "These discussions will outline the benefits of the proposed merger and will be an opportunity to answer questions and address concerns. Now that these consultations have been opened, we are looking forward to positive discussions.
"We recognise that this is a challenging time and will be working closely with our staff organisations and the three Community Health Councils to ensure full and open discussions," he added.
Health council to discuss plans.
Pembrokeshire Community Health Council will debate the proposed merger of the NHS Trusts at 5pm on Monday, September 17th.
The meeting is expected to be held at Withybush Conference Centre in Haverfordwest. Members of the public can attend but cannot speak during the meeting.
Community Health Council chief officer, Ashley Warlow, said: "We have received a private presentation and we believe there was a significant lack of detail in the presentation being made to us and there was no assurance, or detailed assurance, that any cost savings would be made so we will now debate it in full at our forthcoming meeting."
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