Pressure on our Welsh NHS is piling. The demand on GP practices is up 20% compared to the same period two years ago.
As of September 53,056 patient pathways in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board were waiting over 36 weeks to start treatment. And in October only 54.8% of patients spent less than the four hour target time at the Glan Clwyd emergency department. However, there is room for hope. 99% of patients spent less than the four hour target time at Llandudno General Hospital MIU.
In fact, all the MIUs in our Health Board achieved an average of 98.9%. Given the apparent efficient operation of MIUs, I have last week written to Russell George MS, Chair, Health and Social Care Committee, Welsh Parliament, in response to the consultation currently being undertaken on hospital discharge and its impact on patient flow through hospitals. I have made clear my opinion that MIUs have the capability of seeing more patients, and reducing the pressure on major emergency departments.
Sadly, if unwell, so many of us would automatically chose to drive to Glan Clwyd or Gwynedd because the emergency department has been downgraded in Llandudno. Indeed, the Unit can only assist with sprains; cuts and grazes; scalds; something in an individual’s eye; insect bites and stings; and minor head injuries. Therefore, I have called for the list of responsibilities and opening times to be urgently reviewed in the hope that we can receive more treatment closer to home 24/7.
The potential at Llandudno is clear. For example, it has an Ambulatory Care Unit (ACU) which is supposed to offer same day care to patients at the hospital, meaning that they are assessed, diagnosed, treated, and go home the same day, without being admitted overnight. However, I have unearthed the scandalous fact that not a single patient has been seen at the ACU this year. In fact, since the suspension of the ACU, the three medical staff running the service have left: two relocating to new roles in England and another returning to primary care.
I will not stand by whilst our local hospital is being overlooked, underutilised, and under-prioritised by the Health Board. As of 12 November 2021 there were as many as 294 patients medically fit for discharge in our region. We need to improve the flow of patients through our three major North Wales hospitals, which in my opinion means ensuring that there are enough beds available.
With the social care crisis in Conwy County looking very hard to improve in the short term, I have asked the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee to consider the possibility that the serious problems caused by delayed hospital discharge could be at least partially alleviated through having a policy in place which requires those patients who are medically fit for discharge to be transferred to at least some of the following hospitals: Abergele, Colwyn Bay, Denbigh, Royal Alexandra, Ruthin, Deeside, Chirk, Holywell, Mold, Pwllheli, Dolgellau, Stanley, Alltwen, Llangefni, Caernarfon, Tywyn, and Llandudno.
In essence, what I am working to achieve is the upgrade in the importance of our smaller hospitals in the delivery of health care in North Wales.
Should you like to share any ideas about improving patient flow through hospitals, please do contact me on 01492 871198 and [email protected]
Photo: Absolutvision/UnSplash
