Adult Thoracic Surgery Services in South Wales

You may be aware that Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC) is currently undertaking a review of the provision of thoracic surgery in Wales. In January 2018, the Joint Committee approved the recommendation made by the Thoracic Surgery Review Project Board to provide thoracic surgery from a single centre in south Wales. The Joint Committee also accepted the recommendation made by an Independent Panel to locate the single centre in Morriston Hospital, Swansea. This recommendation is now the subject of a period of public consultation which is running to 27 August 2018.

The creation of a single adult thoracic surgery centre for south Wales based at Morriston Hospital would not affect patients who live in areas that are already served by Morriston Hospital. This includes patients who live in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (ABMUHB), Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDUHB) areas and those areas of Powys Teaching Health Board where patients receive their secondary care at either ABMUHB or HDUHB. These patients would continue to have their thoracic surgery at Morriston Hospital, Swansea.

However, the changes would affect patients who now have their thoracic surgery in UHW, Cardiff, and who would in future have their surgery in Morriston Hospital, Swansea. These are patients who live in the areas covered by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Cwm Taf University Health Board and parts of Powys Teaching Health Board where patients receive their secondary care at one of these health boards.

However, it is important to remember that surgery itself is just one small but important part of the overall service patients will receive. The rest of the service will remain unchanged. For example, patients will still see their local respiratory consultant and have their diagnostic tests at the same hospital where they would currently.

Please find below link to the consultation document. This document explains the steps WHSSC has taken to reach this stage, the information and questions they wish you to consider, and how and by when to send WHSSC your comments. It also includes a feedback form which you are asked to complete and return by 27 August 2018.

You can also find further information as well as an online feedback form at www.whssc.wales.nhs.uk/thoracic-surgery-services-in-south-wales

http://www.powysthb.wales.nhs.uk/thoracic-surgery