More appalling mismanagement from the BCUHT:
Llandudno Hospital breast cancer surgery will cease
Jan 10 2013 by Judith Phillips, North Wales Weekly News
BREAST surgery at Llandudno Hospital will cease almost immediately despite protests from campaigners.
And a councillor has called for The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to be dissolved for going back on a promise to retain the service.
Shocked Llandudno town councillors discussed the issue as an urgent item on Tuesday, and Cllr Greg Robbins received unanimous support for letters to be sent to the chief executive of the health board and to Welsh health minister lesley Griffiths asking for surgery to be retained at the hospital.
“The letters should express our extreme shock and disappointment that promises made have been broken and totally disregarded.
“I believe we should also say that we as a council have lost all trust in the Betsi Cadwaladr Board and ask that it be dissolved.”
The vice-chairman of the Llandudno Hospital Action Group, Carol Marubbi said she and the chairman, Linda Groom had been given assurances by former health minister Edwina Hart that breast surgery would be safe, and that the hospital would have a new women’s health centre.
“This unit is a centre of excellence and the service it offers is exceptional.
“It is just appalling that all the promises we were given just three years by the minister, have been broken.
“We never thought for a minute that the breast surgery service was at risk,” she complained.
Doreen Atkinson and Dorothy Smith from Llandudno, have both undergone surgery on Maesdu Ward at Llandudno Hospital and are fighting to keep it.
Doreen commented: “I am horrified about the way the public and patients have been let down after all the promises made by the previous health minister, Edwina Hart, and the work done by a project board regarding the plans for new hospital departments in Llandudno, in particular a dedicated Women’s Health unit combining screening, surgery and aftercare.
“I have heard all the arguments but am not convinced that a way cannot be found to keep this unit.
“The unit was classed as being excellent. Breast surgery is very traumatic and having a dedicated unit away from the main large hospitals cuts down the chance of infection.
“Part of the recovery process from surgery, which is so excellent in Llandudno, is that you are with women suffering from the same problem, and it must save the NHS money that it helps ladies recover quicker rather than being with patients having different operations.
“I think it is overlooked that it is the people who pay the taxes that supply the Welsh Government with the resources to fund the NHS.
“The services at Llandudno have been reviewed and reviewed over the last few years, and the money that this has cost could have helped fund a new unit and it could be up and running now.
“I feel there has been a hidden agenda all along to cut all types of surgery at the hospital, gradually transferring operations to Ysbyty Gwynedd, including the endoscopy unit. So much money is wasted in the NHS on projects that never seem to get off the ground,” said Doreen.
A statement from the Betsi Cadwaladr Trust issued yesterday (Wednesday) said shorter hours for junior doctors meant surgery at the hospital was at risk.
However there were plans to ensure patient safety if it was moved elsewhere.
And gave an assurance: “The majority of breast services at Llandudno Hospital, including clinics, diagnostics and the Breast Test Wales service will not be affected.”