SOSPPAN campaigners demand public meeting on MIU closure at Prince Philip Hospital

Campaigners in Llanelli are intensifying their efforts to preserve the minor injuries unit at the Prince Philip Hospital, demanding an urgent public meeting with health officials following the announcement of a nighttime closure from November 1.

The Save Our Services Prince Philip Action Network (SOSPPAN) has launched a public petition against the decision, which they claim breaks promises of 24-hour care and indicates mismanagement by Hywel Dda University Health Board.

SOSPPAN chair, Councillor Deryk Cundy, emphasised the potential dangers posed by the closure, arguing that it compromises public safety and could lead to fatalities as patients might face delays waiting for ambulances to reach distant hospitals. With over 6,000 people utilising the unit annually during nighttime hours, Cundy asserted that the health board’s decision to suspend services for six months places an unfair burden on other local hospitals already struggling with capacity.

He called for health chiefs to address these concerns directly at a public meeting, underscoring the sentiment that Llanelli residents deserve the same healthcare resources as other communities.

Lee Waters MS who has campaigned in previous years for Prince Philip Hospital expressed his disappointment over the decision made by the Health Board. In a letter, he outlined how the decision to withdraw overnight coverage at the Minor Injuries Unit at Prince Philip Hospital had been ‘very badly received in Llanelli.’

In his letter, Waters said, “It does feel like rather than raising its game in response to the report the Health Board have instead decided simply to walk away from their commitments. Your board seem content with this. I am not.”

Waters further added that nobody was happy about the A&E being taken away but Llanelli was promised round the clock Doctor-led care by a team of GPs and nurses instead.

Waters said, “The need for that hasn’t gone away. The NHS exists to meet the needs of the people and Llanelli is one of the highest areas of need in the whole Hywel Dda Health Board area.

“If the health board are struggling to recruit staff then they need a new plan, not to break the promises they made for 24 hour care at Prince Phillip Hospital.”

MP Nia Griffith who has also campaigned to protect NHS services in Llanelli as well as PPH said: “I stressed to  Hywel Dda Health Board bosses our massive concerns at any plans to reduce opening hours of minor injury unit at Prince Philip Hospital. (It is) vital they recognise that Llanelli is the biggest town in west Wales and keep our services here.”

MP Nia Griffith in 2013 at PPH for the 70 Year Anniversary of the NHS.

Letter to Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Jeremy Miles

Secretary of SOSPPAN John Prosser has today (30th September) issued a letter to Cabinet Secretary Jeremy Miles, calling for the Welsh Government to intervene on the decision taken by the Health Board. In the letter (which can be read Here), Prosser says, “Although the Hywel Dda Management state that keeping the MIU open as being a safety risk, closing it will create a far greater risk for the people needing to present themselves for medical advice which will now be removed from the Llanelli area.

“Unbelievably Llanelli, a town with a a catchment of more than 69,000 will be left without overnight medical cover apart from ambulance referrals which currently cannot cope with the workload, which is why the major referrals of just under 2,000 (5.5 in a 12 hour period of 20:00 to 08:00) self present.”

“If someone was to propose that the ‘fire cover’ or ‘police cover’ were removed for this period every night, the Government would not allow this. Why should ‘medical cover’ be any different with the possibility of putting literally thousands of people’s lives at risk? It is simple for us in Llanelli and for SOSPPAN:

“This is our Red Line which cannot be crossed and the reduction of services at PPH must stop now.”

Prosser has been holding a vigil outside the Hospital in a bid to keep the MIU open and encourages others to join him there.

Campaigners take to the streets

Councillor Rob Evans and his wife, Nysia Evans, spearheaded a significant grassroots effort in Llanelli to protest the planned closure of the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at Prince Philip Hospital. Upon hearing the news, Councillor Evans quickly created a video to rally support, and on Saturday, the couple set up a petition table in the town center, gathering over a thousand signatures within just a few hours.

Their initiative, which has garnered considerable public attention, is in collaboration with the Save Our Services Prince Philip Action Network (SOSPPAN), led by Chair Derek Cundy and Vice Chair Suzy.

Recognising the potential danger posed to local healthcare, particularly as Glangwili and Morriston Hospital’s Accident and Emergency departments are already under strain, Evans emphasised the critical need for the MIU. He warned that without immediate action, lives could be at risk, as lengthy wait times at existing facilities could escalate to 24 hours for minor injuries. SOSPPAN has established a presence at the entrance of Prince Philip Hospital and plans to continue gathering signatures in opposition to the closure, set for November 1, 2024.

Statement from PPH’s MIU Clinical Lead

Prince Philip Hospital’s Minor Injury Unit Clinical Lead Jon Morris said: “To ensure the safety and confidence of people attending the minor injury unit, we need to able to provide a fit for purpose service during all opening hours.

“The inability to consistently cover the rota, with suitably qualified doctors, particularly during the evenings and overnight, carries risk to our patients and our staff, with staff absences then compounding the problem.

“We considered whether we could move to an emergency nurse-led model overnight, but we have found that some presentations at the unit are more serious in nature than can be dealt with in a unit of this type. Therefore, we ruled out this option in the short term.

“Whilst this temporary change is in place, it is important to stress that Prince Philip Hospital continues to provide acute medical care for the local population.”

A History of Prince Philip Hospital:

History of Llanelli’s Hospitals and Construction of PPH

The Old Llanelli Hospital, built in 1885 was located on Marblehall Road, Stebonheath and was described as a “fair home to nurture man” and a “wholesome illustrious medicine.”

The old Hospital stayed open for a lengthy period of time until the 1970s where it was decided due to an increase in the population, a larger hospital was needed to accommodate larger numbers.

Prince Philip Hospital was designed by Holder Mathias and built in the late 1980s by RM Douglas Construction, opening in May 1990. It has served as the primary care and treatment facility for Llanelli residents and the surrounding area for over 30 years. It is an integral part of Llanelli, with the next nearest Hospital being Glangwili in Carmarthen, or Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

Expansions

The hospital has expanded over the years, with new additions including:

Breast care unit: Opened in October 2010

Mynydd Mawr Rehabilitation Unit: Established in October 2013 to accommodate services from Mynydd Mawr Hospital

Minor Injuries Unit: Opened in 2016 after the closure of the Accident and Emergency Department Services (A&E).
The hospital offers general medicine, elective general surgery, urology, and orthopaedic services. It also has a Clinical Skills Lab for trainees and medical students.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.