RE “Overnight Paediatric inpatient care”

PAUL Miller claims on page 2, of March 25 edition, that he has developed a plan with a group of experts and has received positive feedback form Steve Moore, the new CEO of Hywel Dda Health Board.

He suggests that it would only take an additional two middle grade doctors (Health Board say four because of vacancies) and an indeterminate number of Advanced Nurse Practitioners, because junior doctors have to work a 1 in 11 rota, to, and I quote “..allow for the vast majority of Pembrokeshire children, who need to stay in hospital, to stay in Withybush without the need to travel to Glangwili.”

I am afraid there are several flaws in this plan. Firstly and most importantly for a ward to be open at night for seven nights requires 10 to 12 nurses with an appropriate skill mix depending on the number of beds planned to be kept open 24/7. Secondly is the willingness of the health board, thirdly the finance and fourthly the ability to recruit the required numbers of doctors and nurses.

Mr Miller had his opportunity to influence the Health Minister on March 5, 2014 when he and Joyce Watson were in attendance at a prearranged meeting Mr Drakeford had agreed to with members of SWAT and two senior nurses from Withybush.

This was the day Mr Drakeford refused to meet me as chairman of SWAT.

It is a shame that Mr Miller and indeed Mrs Watson did not try harder on that day to keep Pembrokeshire’s vital services in Pembrokeshire at Withybush.

CHRIS OVERTON

Consultant Obstetrician

Withybush Hospital

Chairman SWAT Independent Save Withybush Save Lives prospective parliamentary candidate for Preseli Pembrokeshire constituency