You may have heard that a debate has been launched about potential changes to the location of some hospital services locally. Health boards across South Wales, including Cardiff and Vale, have come together to look at a small number of specialist, but important, services to explore how best to tackle some of the issues they face in providing them safely. They’ve called this work the South Wales Programme.

Working with more than 300 clinicians across South Wales, the Programme has identified some specialist services across South Wales where they think there may be a need to rethink where and how these services are provided.

The services being looked at are:

– some specialist maternity services (obstetrics)
– some specialist inpatient services for children and babies born very prematurely (paediatrics and neonatal services)
– accident and emergency and trauma services. 

You can find out more about the ideas and how to engage in the debate at www.cardiffandvaleuhb.wales.nhs.uk/swp 

No decisions have yet been made and the Health Boards are keen to know what the public think about the issues facing the NHS and the possible scenarios being considered for concentrating 24/7 consultant-led care in South Wales. Based on the comments and advice received in this engagement phase, which runs until 19th December, a series of options will be developed and formally consulted on early next year. As part of  the crucial engagement phase,  Vale Centre for Voluntary Services and Cardiff Third Sector Council are hosting an engagement event for Third Sector Organisations to inform and offer a chance to get involved. Cardiff and Vale University Health Board clinical leads will present the ideas being explored at this session. Views and discussion from the event will inform a joint response from the CVCs.
 
South Wales Programme Third Sector Engagement Workshop
16th November 10am to 1pm
at Cardiff Central Library, The Hayes, Cardiff CF10 1FL

Refreshments provided

To book your place and find out more, please email Kevin Rahman-Daultrey, Health and Social Care Facilitator at Cardiff Third Sector Council at kevin.r@c3sc.org.uk