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No decision on hospital shake-up No decision on hospital shake-up
(about 2 hours later)
Details of a planned shake-up of services at a Conwy hospital have been unveiled, but the final decision has been postponed.Details of a planned shake-up of services at a Conwy hospital have been unveiled, but the final decision has been postponed.
Health Minister Edwina Hart told assembly members that day surgery, rheumatology and radiology would be among services enhanced at Llandudno.Health Minister Edwina Hart told assembly members that day surgery, rheumatology and radiology would be among services enhanced at Llandudno.
But the plans also include relocating coronary care, breast surgery and acute stroke work to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.But the plans also include relocating coronary care, breast surgery and acute stroke work to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.
Local campaigners had hoped the review would safeguard all services.Local campaigners had hoped the review would safeguard all services.
Ms Hart told AMs that the review report "sets out many very positive proposals for the future of Llandudno."Ms Hart told AMs that the review report "sets out many very positive proposals for the future of Llandudno."
She added: "It describes a set of services which provide a guarantee to the local population that the hospital will continue to serve their needs far into the future."She added: "It describes a set of services which provide a guarantee to the local population that the hospital will continue to serve their needs far into the future."
Recommendations include retaining the minor injury facility, while developing services such as rheumatology, establishing an eight bed in-patients brain injury unit and extending surgical day cases.Recommendations include retaining the minor injury facility, while developing services such as rheumatology, establishing an eight bed in-patients brain injury unit and extending surgical day cases.
LLANDUDNO PROPOSALS: Coronary care, acute stroke and breast care surgical services to relocate to Glan Clwyd Develop rheumatology and upgrading radiology at Llandudno Extend gastroenterologyExtend surgical day case capacity Improve the range of outpatient work Provide a eight-bed brain injury unitConsider locating a cataract centreIncrease orthopaedic outpatient and day case workA centralised stroke serviceA midwife-led birthing centreMRI scanner on siteSource: Frank Burns review for the Welsh Assembly GovernmentLLANDUDNO PROPOSALS: Coronary care, acute stroke and breast care surgical services to relocate to Glan Clwyd Develop rheumatology and upgrading radiology at Llandudno Extend gastroenterologyExtend surgical day case capacity Improve the range of outpatient work Provide a eight-bed brain injury unitConsider locating a cataract centreIncrease orthopaedic outpatient and day case workA centralised stroke serviceA midwife-led birthing centreMRI scanner on siteSource: Frank Burns review for the Welsh Assembly Government
But there was bad news for supporters of the hospital with the review endorsing that coronary care and acute stroke work should be relocated to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, along with breast care surgical services.But there was bad news for supporters of the hospital with the review endorsing that coronary care and acute stroke work should be relocated to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, along with breast care surgical services.
Linda Groom, the chairman of Llandudno Hospital Action Group described some of the proposals made as "good ones".Linda Groom, the chairman of Llandudno Hospital Action Group described some of the proposals made as "good ones".
She added: "I was pleased to hear them (of retained or improved services) but if the hospital action group could add their list of retaining coronary care and breast surgery we would be happy."She added: "I was pleased to hear them (of retained or improved services) but if the hospital action group could add their list of retaining coronary care and breast surgery we would be happy."
Ms Groom said she was looking forward to meeting the health minister again.Ms Groom said she was looking forward to meeting the health minister again.
"Edwina Hart has been very open and transparent and we feel we are being listened to," she said."Edwina Hart has been very open and transparent and we feel we are being listened to," she said.
"And to have babies at Llandudno would be a very good result," she added."And to have babies at Llandudno would be a very good result," she added.
However, Clwyd West AM Darren Millar said for the Conservatives that the assembly government coalition partners had put Llandudno Hospital "on death row".However, Clwyd West AM Darren Millar said for the Conservatives that the assembly government coalition partners had put Llandudno Hospital "on death row".
He said: "Plaid campaigned to protect the breast cancer and cardiac services at Llandudno Hospital and I am therefore astonished that they have welcomed the review published today."He said: "Plaid campaigned to protect the breast cancer and cardiac services at Llandudno Hospital and I am therefore astonished that they have welcomed the review published today."
"This is just complete hypocrisy. Ministers are playing a political game with people's health.""This is just complete hypocrisy. Ministers are playing a political game with people's health."
But a senior Plaid Cymru source told BBC Wales that the future of the breast cancer services at Llandudno represented a "red line" for the party. Gareth Jones, Aberconwy AM, said Plaid Cymru had a "cast iron guarantee" that Llandudno Hospital would not be downgraded.
It had taken the explicit commitment from Ms Hart that the hospital will not be downgraded as a guarantee that these services would remain. He said with recommendations for additional and extended services they would come as a "great relief" to local people.
He said that Plaid would not tolerate those services being removed and there would be serious consequences for the coalition. "I accept the minister's reasons for not yet announcing a decision on the future of breast cancer surgery at the hospital," he said.
The health minister also brought AMs up to date with other health review issues in the area: "However, I will continue to fight hard to ensure that this service remains at Llandudno until an announcement is forthcoming."
Ms Hart also brought AMs up to date with other health review issues in the area:
  • Plans are approved for the long-awaited new Abergele primary care centre, while an independent review has been commissioned into "clinical governance issues" at Abergele Hospital.
  • Structural changes to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd hospital will be revealed at a further date after a review.
  • A review of services at Prestatyn and Blaenau Ffestiniog hospitals were "in the very final stages", and should be available for release next week, she said.
  • Plans are approved for the long-awaited new Abergele primary care centre, while an independent review has been commissioned into "clinical governance issues" at Abergele Hospital.
  • Structural changes to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd hospital will be revealed at a further date after a review.
  • A review of services at Prestatyn and Blaenau Ffestiniog hospitals were "in the very final stages", and should be available for release next week, she said.