Independent & Plaid Councillors Call On Welsh Government To Protect Minor Injuries Unit In Llanelli

Independent and Plaid Cymru Councillors on Llanelli Town and Llanelli Rural Councils have expressed shock and alarm at the plans announced by Hywel Dda University Health Board to close the Minor Injuries Unit at Prince Phillip Hospital from 8pm – 8am for the next 6 months.

The urgent care services continue to be depleted. Most in the community agree that the largest town in West Wales should have its own A&E service but now it seems Llanelli will not even have a full-time Minor Injuries Unit.

While we accept the concerns raised by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales following an unannounced inspection at the hospital last year, for Hywel Dda to decide the best solution to those concerns over patient safety is to cut the service is staggering. 

On behalf of our residents, we must call on Welsh Government and the Welsh Health Minister to step in and stop this proposal by Hywel Dda. We will be proposing formal motions in the coming weeks in the Town and Rural Councils asking them to do the same. Llanelli cannot afford to lose any more health services.

Signed:

Cllr. Michael Cranham, Bigyn Ward

Cllr. Sean Rees, Glanymor Ward

Cllr. Louvain Roberts, Glanymor Ward

Cllr. Alex Evans, Glyn Ward

Cllr. Sharen Davies, Llwynhendy Ward

Cllr. Jason Hart, Llwynhendy Ward

Cllr. Terry Davies, Tyisha Ward

Notices of Motion – MIU, PPH;

1. That Llanelli Town/Rural Council formally request that representatives of the Hywel Dda University Health Board attend a meeting of this council to discuss their decision to close the Minor Injuries Unit from 8pm – 8am for a period of 6 months.

We require answers to questions such as the following:

• Why have Hywel Dda chosen a period of 6 months, rather than a shorter period?

• Will Hywel Dda try to restore a 24/7 MIU during the next 6 months or will 6 months be the minimum that Llanelli is without a 24/7 MIU?

• Has every possible alternative been explored before making this decision?

• Is the MIU at risk of being part-time permanently?

2. That Llanelli Town/Rural Council call on Welsh Government and the Welsh Health Secretary, Jeremy Miles, to intervene and stop Llanelli’s urgent care provision from being further cut by Hywel Dda. The largest town in West Wales should have an A&E department but now we do not even have a full-time Minor Injuries Unit. 

Health is a devolved matter and it is only right that Welsh Government and the Health Secretary step in and prevent further cuts to services in Llanelli.