Save Withybush Peter Milewski for SWAT with acknowledgement

Save Withybush Peter Milewski for SWAT (with acknowledgement to Elizabeth Williams) 1

A little bit of history The Old County Hospital, Haverfordwest Opened in 1923 2

A little bit of history RAF Nissen Hut hospital Opened in 1942 3

1961 – both getting very run-down § “I foresee”, said Councillor Morgan, “the time when the County Hospital will be relegated to little more than a casualty clearing centre” § “Everyone”, said Father Green, “knows how uncomfortable ambulances are, and to take a patient 30 miles to Carmarthen is sheer brutality” § A Welsh Hospital Board report was awaited 4

1962 – The Report is published § “Intense Disappointment” § Of £ 47, 000 allocated to Wales to modernize the NHS, none was for Pembrokeshire ! l “new wards and modern theatres. . envisaged after 1965 -1966” 5

1962 - 1970 § 1964 agreement to £ 1, 200, 000 for a new build on the Withybush site § Intended as a ‘support’ hospital (i. e. casualty clearing centre) § 1969 WHB instruct Pembrokeshire doctors to send all accident cases direct to Carmarthen § Endless strife 6

1970 – a crucial year § April: “Death March” – coffins and stretchers carried on foot from Haverfordwest to Carmarthen by Pembrokeshire Citizens League § Casualty unit partly closed (lack of staff) § June: Cleddau bridge falls down l Two die instantly l One dies in ambulance at St. Clear’s – treatable ruptured spleen l One dies later in Glangwili § Sept. : WHB announce closure of casualty unit § Oct: conclusion of Coroner’s Inquest … 7

October 1970 § Mr J Johnson (Coroner) addresses his remarks to the Press: l “To send sick and badly injured people on the difficult journey to Carmarthen especially in the summer months when as most of us know, the roads are impassable, is the height of irresponsible folly. ” 8

October 1970 – all hell breaks loose 1500 protestors stop the traffic 7000 signatures on petition Telegram to the Queen Milford Port Authority MO points out that 100, 000 seamen visit annually § 30 mile double ambulance trip leaves Pembrokeshire without an ambulance for 90 minutes § Texaco explosion: pieces of tangled metal weighing up to 3 tons blasted hundreds of yards. Miraculously no injuries. § WHB Press Relations officer suggests radio-ed advice to GP’s § § l “How do you stop ruptured spleens and livers by the roadside? I don’t know” (Dr C Hollick, Consultant Pathologist) § WHB Chief MO visits (Dr RT Bevan) 9

January 1971 § Bevan report recommends round the clock A&E unit but not much else l Report attacked by Mr JFE Gillam (retired surgeon). All accidents would be the responsibility of the General Surgeon with doubtful on-site support. “It almost looks as if the system of staffing was designed to fail, to provide an excuse to revert to the policy of sending accidents to Carmarthen”. 10

1971 – 1978 – constant strife re hospital plan § Inadequate A&E support § No orthopaedic surgeon § No paediatric beds § No psychiatrist § Tiny Pathology lab. § XR department doesn’t meet guidelines § No paediatrician § Cramped space § No geriatrician § Flat roof 11

1978 – Withybush opens £ 7, 000 12

Developments since – innumerable. Since I came in 1989: § New Roof! § Coronary Care Unit § Medical Admissions Unit (now outdated) § Stroke Unit § Rehabilitation Unit § Geriatric Day Hospital § Breast Cancer Service § Colorectal Cancer Service § Chemotherapy Unit § Palliative Care Service § Early Pregnancy Unit § Integrated Acute and Community Paediatrics § Endoscopy Unit – interim, then new one § New Day Hospital § Psychiatric Hospital § New CT scanner § Keyhole surgery § Intensive Care and High Dependency Unit § Top flight Post. Grad Centre § New ways of working. . § Pre-admission Clinic § New operations to reduce length of stay § “ 23/59” stay § The list goes on … 13

What’s missing? § Community care § New A&E with 15 -bed Assessment Unit and infrastructure § 85% bed occupancy (not 95%!!) § Waiting list: more progress to be made § One-stop diagnosis and surgery for some conditions § Advanced Keyhole surgery § Decent electronic / video communication with other hospitals 14

What’s been taken away? § Some Obstetric and Gynaecology advances § HDU beds - frontline § Theatre lists - frontline § Various community services § Various posts to be unfilled § These are what will lead to downgrading of the hospital unless immediately reversed 15

In summary § We are a hospital going places § We have a clear sense of direction § We need investment § We need vision at the helm § We have public support § So who wants to pull the carpet from under our feet? 16

In summary § We are a hospital going places § We have a clear sense of direction § We need investment § We need vision at the helm § We have public support § So who wants to pull the carpet from under our feet? 17