Temporary services planned for Newtown hospital

Patients will be grouped in hospitals according to specific needs – in changes to how health services will be provided in Powys from this autumn.

As reported by MyNewtown yesterday, Powys Teaching Health Board proposes to centre some services on four hospitals due to specific need as part of wider financial savings needed due to a near £23 million deficit this year.

Newtown, Llanidloes and Welshpool hospitals will be affected.

The change of provision is needed due to financial and staffing issues that are affecting PTHB.

Executive medical director Dr Kate Wright said: “Currently we look after patients with mixed needs across all of our sites.

“We know that isn’t particularly efficient it’s expensive in that the same level of staffing is needed no matter what the patient need is on the ward.”

She explained that PTHB had looked at what happens at other health boards and had concluded that the “cohorting of patients does help with clinical safety and efficiency.”

Dr Wright said:  “Our plan is that patients who need a very active rehab offer such as patients that have had a stroke are to be looked after in Brecon (Breconshire War Memorial Hospital) and Newtown (Montgomeryshire County Infirmary).

“Those patients are spread widely and our very expert staff too thinly- so they are unable to deliver that all important rehab as well as we should be.”

“The second proposed change is around our patients who don’t have any active medical need.”

Dr Wright explained that other health boards who bring together this cohort of patients into a “ready to go unit” believe it is a much more efficient use of staffing and provides better collaboration with Social Services.

Dr Wright: “There’s evidence from other health boards that it dramatically increases the rate of discharge and get people home.”

“The proposal is to change two of our wards to ready to go units in Llanidloes (War Memorial Hospital) and Bronllys.”

“There will undoubtedly be more travel for some patients, but the outcomes will be better – there will need to be flexibility around visiting.”

She added that this model of care will be reviewed “very carefully” to make sure it’s the right one.

Director of clinical strategy Paul Buss explained that patients who stay in hospital too long are at risk of “de-conditioning” which is a decline in health, physical strength and fitness due to inactivity.

Mr Buss said: “This could be a game changer for us.”

Board vice-chairwoman, Kirsty Williams asked how the board will “know” that the changes have been a success or in case they need to “pivot” in a different direction.

Mr Buss explained that current and future patient length of stay, and admission rates would be compared.

The board agreed the changes that are set to be implemented from September and are to be in place initially for a “temporary” six month period.

A public “engagement exercise” to publicise the changes is due to start next week.

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporting Service