4. Urgent Question: Paediatric Services at Withybush Hospital

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:33 pm on 1 November 2016.

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Photo of Joyce Watson Joyce Watson Labour 3:33, 1 November 2016

I thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for what you’ve already said. You did join with me, through the summer recess, to view for yourself, alongside me, and speak to, all those involved in delivering this care in paediatric services, both in Glangwili and also in Withybush. And what we’ve seen, and what we’ve heard, really supports what you’ve just said—that we have a very, very good workforce there, who are delivering a really good service. Nonetheless, you are right to say, and it is the case, that there are challenges recruiting consultants and other staff within Wales and beyond Wales. And what we heard, and the plans that are afoot, seemed to be helping them to rise to that challenge and to meet the needs of the patients—and particularly, here, the paediatric patients—in the very best way. I was also pleased to see that the ambulatory service has been extended now until March 2017, and that was key to that provision in the very first place, when we moved that down to the existing 12-hour service.

But my question, I suppose, to you today is: we do know that there’s going to be turnover of staff—we were informed that then, it’s not new news, and it’s not particularly urgent news. But what I want to know, Cabinet Secretary, is what support you would give to the health board, in helping them, in any way that they might request, to recruit the staff that they need, in west Wales, so that the service that they intend to keep doesn’t have to rely continually on a temporary locum.