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| Neurosurgery unit plan 'disaster' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A leading consultant has warned plans to keep neurosurgery services in Swansea and Cardiff are a "disaster". | A leading consultant has warned plans to keep neurosurgery services in Swansea and Cardiff are a "disaster". |
| An expert report from Health Commission Wales recommended one site for brain surgery in south Wales based in Cardiff. | An expert report from Health Commission Wales recommended one site for brain surgery in south Wales based in Cardiff. |
| But Health Minister Edwina Hart has now announced she would keep the unit at Morriston Hospital in Swansea as well. | But Health Minister Edwina Hart has now announced she would keep the unit at Morriston Hospital in Swansea as well. |
| Consultant neurosurgeon Richard Hatfield said the move was detrimental to the needs of patients and staff. | Consultant neurosurgeon Richard Hatfield said the move was detrimental to the needs of patients and staff. |
| Mr Hadfield, who works at University Hospital Wales Cardiff, said he thought it was "very bad news". | |
| "We have two units which are non-viable in today's terms and to try and keep them both open will mean that it's almost certain that eventually, both will fail," he said. | "We have two units which are non-viable in today's terms and to try and keep them both open will mean that it's almost certain that eventually, both will fail," he said. |
| Protesters have held marches opposed to the closure of Morriston | Protesters have held marches opposed to the closure of Morriston |
| "The failure to organise neurosurgery on a proper footing now will mean that it will have no long-term future." | "The failure to organise neurosurgery on a proper footing now will mean that it will have no long-term future." |
| He said politicians were not prepared to face reality and consolidate services because it would be "a very unpopular decision". | He said politicians were not prepared to face reality and consolidate services because it would be "a very unpopular decision". |
| "Mainstream neurosurgery has to be consolidated in bigger centres because you do not have the critical mass in a small centre to provide a safe, effective service." | "Mainstream neurosurgery has to be consolidated in bigger centres because you do not have the critical mass in a small centre to provide a safe, effective service." |
| He added that there was a "real risk" the decision could result in the loss of all neurosurgery from south Wales. | He added that there was a "real risk" the decision could result in the loss of all neurosurgery from south Wales. |
| Campaign | Campaign |
| Neurosurgery treats disorders of the nervous system including diseases of the head, brain and spine. | Neurosurgery treats disorders of the nervous system including diseases of the head, brain and spine. |
| Currently, adult neurosurgery is performed in both Cardiff and Swansea. | Currently, adult neurosurgery is performed in both Cardiff and Swansea. |
| Swansea previously lost its child neurosurgery operations to Cardiff in November 2004. | Swansea previously lost its child neurosurgery operations to Cardiff in November 2004. |
| The plans to centralise neurosurgery in Cardiff were announced in 2006 after a Health Commission Wales report | The plans to centralise neurosurgery in Cardiff were announced in 2006 after a Health Commission Wales report |
| Dr Gibbons delayed the decision when he was health minister | Dr Gibbons delayed the decision when he was health minister |
| Since the overall move to Cardiff was proposed a year ago, a high profile campaign of opposition has been underway in Swansea and more than 100,000 people signed a petition opposing the change. | Since the overall move to Cardiff was proposed a year ago, a high profile campaign of opposition has been underway in Swansea and more than 100,000 people signed a petition opposing the change. |
| In October, five AMs from south west Wales constituencies wrote to the then health minister Brian Gibbons asking him to consider other factors before moving neurosurgery between the two cities. | In October, five AMs from south west Wales constituencies wrote to the then health minister Brian Gibbons asking him to consider other factors before moving neurosurgery between the two cities. |
| In November, Dr Gibbons then decided to delay the controversial decision until after the assembly election. | In November, Dr Gibbons then decided to delay the controversial decision until after the assembly election. |
| Elin Ifan from the Wales Neurological Alliance, an umbrella group that represents patients, warned that south Wales did not have big enough a population to sustain two specialist centres for neurosurgery. | Elin Ifan from the Wales Neurological Alliance, an umbrella group that represents patients, warned that south Wales did not have big enough a population to sustain two specialist centres for neurosurgery. |