Plans to suspend a special care baby unit and gynaecology day surgery at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodewyddan have been scrapped.
The proposals to withdraw the services on a temporary basis were part of a series of controversial service changes agreed by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in February. The plans met with significant opposition from elected representatives, members of the public and the British Medical Association, which is currently seeking a judicial review into the decision.
But following a meeting this week between the Health Board, Clwyd West AM Darren Millar and Vale of Clwyd AM Ann Jones, the Chief Executive has now confirmed that the Board will consider revised proposals when it meets in May, including: the retention of the Special Care Baby Unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital; the retention of day case gynaecology at Glan Clwyd Hospital and the retention of the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital.
Commenting on the news, Ann Jones AM said:
“I give these changes a cautious welcome. The Special Care Baby Unit has been threatened with closure in the past so any prospect of the services being suspended by the Board was completely unacceptable.
“I’m pleased that gynaecology patients will also still be able to access day surgery at Glan Clwyd, especially given that many are elderly and vulnerable.
“I will continue to work with Darren and others to safeguard our doctor-led maternity services and to secure the regional neonatal centre at Glan Clwyd as soon as possible.”
Darren Millar AM said:
“The Special Care Baby Unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital provides life-saving treatment and care to small sick babies; its loss to the locality would have been devastating and put lives at risk. I welcome that the Unit, along with gynaecology day surgery services are now set to be maintained.
“Whilst I am pleased that the Board has made these important changes to its original proposals it must remember that our campaign to protect services is not over yet. The future of our doctor-led maternity services still hangs in the balance and we will not give up the fight until they are secured.”
Picture Caption 1: (from left to right) Matt Makin, Medical Director, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Angela Hopkins, Director of Nursing, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Vale of Clwyd AM Ann Jones and Clwyd West AM Darren Millar at the packed public meeting held at St Asaph Cathedral in March.
Picture Caption 2: Hundreds gathered at the public meeting at St Asaph Cathedral.