“When I heard the closure of MIU Prince Phillip Llanelli from November 1st. I was very concerned for our service users who use our services but also on a personal level for myself, family and friends.
“We all use what we are comfortable with, I have lived in Llanelli and surrounding areas for over 50 years and watched with admiration the new build of Prince Phillip which opened in 1990.
“Prince Phillip hospital is on the edge of the town, a busy, modern and well-equipped hospital, with carparking facilities, MIU and AMAU. A new day surgical ward, Psychiatric ward and a specialist breast clinic ward to name but a few.
“Over the last 12 months I have seen notices on social platforms informing the public that there was no service due to staffing levels in MIU Llanelli.People needed to travel to Carmarthen to be seen in an emegency.
“So to hear this news of closure my thoughts spiralled, I knew it would be a matter of time regarding the Minor Injuries Unit at Prince Philip Hospital closing at night, which is planned from the 1st of November?
“Once again people of Llanelli are not listened too. Carmarthen hospital is more than 20 miles away for vulnerable people to travel, where we have little public transport after 5pm.
“Prince Phillips is still where the Crisis mental health team are based, and it worries me that this might have an impact on access to mental health support when people need it the most. How many lives might we lose?
“At present, I know to access the Crisis team, members of the public could be directed to MIU by 111#2, taken by police or ambulance, or walk in themselves.
“Regardless of which route you take, you need to be triaged by the triage nurse in MIU prior to being seen by the Crisis team.
“I wonder what the plan is for future access to the Crisis teams and mental health support during the night time given we do not have a Sanctuary service in Llanelli either?
“Last year we supported over 1,500 individual referrals, engaged with over 6,000 clients, many of these people cannot manage their thoughts at night.
“Historically when we ran our Llanelli Twilight service we would often receive many of our out of hours calls after services typically closed down, 9am -5pm, night time for people who struggle with their mental health and emotional wellbeing is often described as torture and suicidal thoughts and unhelpful behaviours emerge.
“Last week Mind Cymru asked us to share what’s happening on the ground in mental health services in Llanelli with Sarah Murphy MS, the Minister for Mental Health ahead of the next meeting of Wales Alliance for Mental Health, which we have done.
“Obviously we know Llanelli is the largest town in Carmarthenshire and has already witnessed the loss of core LHB funded services, (including moving the Twilight Sanctuary which was the pilot project for Wales, from Llanelli, where it had the greatest need, to Carmarthen); Llanelli is now facing the night time closure of MIU from the 1st of November 2024. This will have a significant impact on those trying to access crisis mental health support within Llanelli and surrounding villages in the area.
“Service users are reporting that 111 option 2 is not working effectively. Experiences can vary depending on the operators that deliver the service. However, this is in isolation to the negative experiences. Service Users do not feel listened to. They feel their mental health is deemed not important. They are not given adequate time on the phone creating the relationship / rapport to listen. They are not given relevant information to make informed choices with regard to their mental health at the time of ringing what they should do or signposted back to us when they are in need of support at the time (usually out of hours).
“I know there are many stakeholder or service user engagement events and at these meetings people with poor mental health and their families and friends don’t want to be pushed from pillar to post, they want easy access, I know most people want 111 option 2 to mimic the pilot Llanelli Twilight Sanctuary service, a welcoming environment a place of safety.
“Although there is still a Sanctuary in Carmarthen, which can be accessed, many cannot travel the 20+ miles to see someone face to face and the telephone triage proves a hurdle when they try and call, meaning they will be expecting a call back with an appointment time for a telephone call with a practitioner.
“The transport budget for Carmarthen Sanctuary to take people home was used up at the beginning of quarter 2. One our vulnerable young females, caught the train down to Carmarthen but missed the last train back and had to wait in the train station until the early morning train.
“Carmarthen Sanctuary operates 5pm – 2am, Thurs – Sun which is great for those who live in Carmarthen or for people who can drive, but many people say they need someone to talk to also Mon – Wed when there is a total gap.
“111 option 2 are not able to bridge this gap and our service users need something as they feel that they have lost a support network.”
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