Bronglais should be a centre of rural healthcare excellence

Wales’ health minister has said he believes Bronglais Hospital should be developed as a centre of excellence for healthcare in rural Wales.

Mabon ap Gwynfor MS made the comments as he visited Aberystwyth to celebrate more than 250 nursing graduates securing posts in NHS Wales since June.

Several campaign groups set up to fight hospital downgrades and bed closures met in Penparcau over the weekend where they called on the Welsh Government to agree a programme of action for mid Wales with clear responsibilities, timescales and public accountability.

Campaigners from Tywyn who are fighting to get Dyfi ward reopened, Powys campaigners fighting plans to remove inpatient beds from hospitals and Bronglais campaigners fighting to keep stroke services all met over the weekend to pool their efforts and call for action.

In response, Mr ap Gwynfor said: “Today is a celebration of work carried out here in Aberystwyth University with the local health board.

“Healthcare is changing in rural Wales. We know demographics are getting older, we know that the demand is going to increase, and we know that we need more nurses in the community.

Reacting to the message from campaigners, he added: “What we are trying to do in government was reflected in what they were saying.

"Absolutely, we need to break down those silos, not just within government but across Wales, breaking down the barriers between health boards. So currently, you know, we've got—in this area you've got Beti Cadwaladr, Powys, and Hywel Dda.

"Historically, they've been sort of standalone organisations. We need to make sure that they collaborate more for the benefit of patients.”

When asked about the Longley report which was released more than a decade ago, calling for a centre of rural healthcare excellence, Mr ap Gwynfor said: “One of the things that Marcus Longley was referencing was the need to develop a centre of rural health excellence. So I've started and initiated that now.

"I've spoken quite a bit that we need to see Bronglais developed as such a centre of excellence. I've had those conversations with the health board, so that is something that is now on the agenda.

"Clearly, it's not going to be something that's developed overnight. It's going to take a while in order to get it set up properly, so that we are taking into consideration the need for cross-border working.

"But absolutely, Longley's report is still relevant and it's still being considered.

“If you look at how they've developed rural healthcare in Western Australia, that's the kind of model we need to look at.”

Asked whether there needs to be a reorganization of health boards, Mr ap Gwynfor said: “As things stand, we have to work with the boards that we've got, because any change to the health boards will take a long, long while to do.

“The public, need confidence that they are accountable for actions that are taken. But in the long term, who knows.”

On the issue of hospital transport, Mr ap Gwynfor said it was something that concerned him and that he is working with transport minister Mark Hooper to develop services.