Glan Clwyd To House New Neonatal Centre Over Wrexham Maelor

It has been announced that a new centre for neonatal intensive care in North Wales will based at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan and not the Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

In an announcement made this afternoon, First Minister Carwyn Jones accepted an independent panel’s recommendation to locate a Sub Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Centre for North Wales (SuRNICC) at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.

The decision to base the centre at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital was rejected due to transport issues and access for people living in the West.

An independent panel – chaired by Sonia Mills, an experienced former NHS chief executive – was established to work with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to develop recommendations on the location of a SuRNICC.

The decision has been made following last year’s controversial proposals to transfer neonatal care for sick babies to Arrowe Park on the Wirral.

The First Minister said: “I am accepting the independent panel’s recommendation to locate the SuRNICC at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. However, I recognise the challenges and risks the panel highlighted in its report, and these will need to be addressed by the health board before the development of the SuRNICC can go ahead at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.

“The panel commented on the great loyalty and commitment of the staff working in both neonatal units, so I know there will be disappointment for some about this recommendation.

“I believe the panel’s advice to be robust and well balanced – and, most importantly – in the best interests of families in North Wales. It will require the health board’s commitment to long-term sustainable services. It will also require the continued commitment of the dedicated staff across the whole of North Wales and it will require our commitment to communicate this decision positively to the population of North Wales.

“Fundamentally, this is about providing the best possible standards of care and clinical outcomes for mothers and babies across North Wales as a whole. Working together we can help to improve outcomes for our sickest babies and children.”

However today’s announcement has been met with a mixed reception from politician

Commenting on the First Minister’s statement, Aled Roberts, Welsh Lib Dem Assembly Member for North Wales, said: “Naming the location is one thing, but people in North Wales need assurances regarding both the staffing levels and the timeline for implementation.

“Sadly, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has historically failed to provide proper staffing levels within neo-natal units. Such failings can’t be allowed to continue. It’s essential that we are shown evidence that staffing levels will finally be addressed.

“Having made the decision on a new neonatal intensive care centre the Welsh Labour Government must now ensure the Health Board has robust plans in place to ensure the issue of recruitment is tackled. The long term aim must be to develop a centre of real excellence so that the most vulnerable infants can be treated in North Wales.”

Since the announcement was made, a number of people have taken to Twitter to express their concerns on what the decision means for Wrexham.

Sian described the news as ‘terrible’ for Wrexham and the surrounding areas. While Carl tweeted: “Utter disgrace! It’s a slap across the face for the people of Wrexham. As a lab voter all my life – can’t believe decision”

Speaking about the decision, Carrie Harper, Plaid Cymru’s Wrexham candidate, said: “Wrexham’s excellent Special Care Baby Unit faces being downgraded because the health board and Cardiff Government have not provided the commitment and investment needed over the past few years. I am hugely concerned, as someone whose children spent time in SCBU, that more mothers and newborn babies will have to travel to Glan Clwyd when we already have a crisis in our ambulance services. I’m also concerned that Glan Clwyd has poor public transport connections that makes it difficult to access for families.

“Wrexham badly needs a strong voice to fight its corner to ensure we have the best possible health service locally. I fear this could be the start of a downgrading of services in our local hospital.”