Commenting on the announcement made today (3rd July) by Hywel Dda Health Board that due to on-going medical recruitment and staffing problems, patients on Afallon Ward in Bronglais General Hospital, will this week be moved to other community and inpatient mental health care services within the region, Montgomeryshire AM, Russell George, said:
“This is concerning news, particularly for the patients and their families who will be affected. They will undoubtedly feel a great degree of anxiety because of this change.
“I hope these staffing problems will be resolved quickly and the services restored back to the hospital.
“However, I can understand that due to levels of uncertainty about how services will be delivered in the future, general staff morale will be low, which makes wider recruitment all the more difficult.
“This is a clear message for the health board and the Welsh Government that if the current situation persists, there will be a slow erosion of services from the ground up, which will undermine the long-term future of Bronglais.
“Both the health board and the Government need to understand that patients must come first and they must act decisively to restore staff and patient confidence.”