This item is a follow-up to the report presented to Council in February entitled:  Proposed Health Board Boundary Change – Consultation: Effective Partnership Working In Bridgend from the Chairman and Chief Executive of Cwm Taf Health Board.  

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing introduced Allison Williams, Chief Executive and Professor Marcus Longley, Chair of Cwm Taf University Health Board to address Council on the proposed Health Board Boundary Change. 

The Chief Executive of Cwm Taf explained to Council that she had been in post for the past 7 years.  She stated that Bridgend had benefitted hugely from being a part of the ABMU and had been at the cutting edge in providing services to the communities it serves.  She informed Council that she had been grateful for the early discussions held with the Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing in advance of a decision being made by the Cabinet Secretary on the proposed Health Board boundary change. 

The Chief Executive of Cwm Taf informed Council that Cwm Taf had led on mental health services to older people and dementia care.  She stated that Cwm Taf did not want to de-stabilise services and any changes to clinical services would be the subject of consultation.  She assured Members that there were significant benefits in patients continuing to receive treatment from the hospitals they currently receive that treatment.  She stated that Cwm Taf is taking a lead in an imaging academy, training radiologists of the future and would be opening a new facility in Pencoed at the end of April. 

A member of Council questioned whether Cwm Taf would have a commitment to sustaining Maesteg Community Hospital.  The Chief Executive of Cwm Taf reassured Council that during her tenure, Cwm Taf had built 2 community hospitals and had developed 2 community health parks and she gave a commitment to community health services continuing.

A member of Council asked whether residents where possible, would receive services from Morriston Hospital or UHW in Cardiff dependent on where they live in addition to services being provided by the Princess of Wales, Royal Glamorgan and Prince Charles Hospitals.  The Chief Executive of Cwm Taf stated that patients requiring tertiary care services would go to either Morriston Hospital or UHW.  She envisaged the three hospitals of the Princess of Wales, Royal Glamorgan and Prince Charles working together, all are of similar size and have challenges, but there would be flexibility in terms of staffing those hospitals following a change in the health board boundary.  She stated that there are particular strengths and specialisms in the Princess of Wales and Royal Glamorgan Hospitals which would benefit the wider population region.  The Chief Executive of Cwm Taf informed Council that a change in health board boundary would also give rise to different opportunities. 

The Leader informed Council that he had recently met with the Leader of RCT Council who was confident that a decision would shortly be reached by the Cabinet Secretary on the proposed change to the health board boundary.  There would then be a need to shape a plan jointly for the revised health board. 

The Chief Executive of Cwm Taf assured Members that this is the only potential change to health board boundaries under consideration and is not linked to the recent announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government on local government reorganisation. 

A member of Council commented that a seamless transition was required on the potential change to the health boundary and asked whether a communications plan will be put in place.  The Chief Executive of Cwm Taf commented that it was critically important for public confidence and staff morale, many of whom live in the communities that Cwm Taf serves, that a communications plan is put in place as the changes will impact over 3 local authorities.  She stated that a number of work streams will be put in place covering workforce, governance, finance and communication.  She informed Council that if this is done well, it would not be noticed by the community; however the community will notice the benefits of the changes. 

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed Council that initial discussions had been held with Cwm Taf on mapping out priorities and it was of importance that the Council is part of that transition. 

The Chief Executive of Cwm Taf informed Council that a joint scoping exercise is being undertaken but this could only proceed so far until a decision has been made by the Cabinet Secretary. 

A member of Council commented that patients want to be treated locally and concern was expressed that patients may have to travel to Merthyr Tydfil for an appointment which is some way from Bridgend.  The Chief Executive informed Council that there would have to be a proven clinical need for a patient to travel from Bridgend to Merthyr Tydfil or vice versa and there would have to be a good reason for that change.  Treatment would be best delivered closer to home where there would be natural patient flows.  There is a natural patient flow between Bridgend and the Royal Glamorgan, whereas there was no natural patient flow between Bridgend and Merthyr Tydfil.  She stated that a new technical facility was being developed which would change the way services to people who have had strokes are delivered.  The Chief Executive of Cwm Taf informed Council that services were not being targeted to be moved and any such decision would have to be the subject of consultation. 

A member of Council asked whether the Cabinet Secretary had a reason for the merger proposals.  The Leader informed Council that the proposed health boundary change formed part of the discussion on public services reform and that most of the Council’s collaborations were based on an easterly footprint, whereas the only collaboration it had to the west was in relation to health.  He stated that he would write to the Cabinet Secretary requesting that he make a decision on the proposal as quickly as possible.

The Cabinet Member Social Services and Early Help thanked the Chief Executive for attending Council and understanding the concerns of Members. 

The Chair of Cwm Taf Health Board thanked Members for the opportunity of discussing the proposed health board boundary change and commented that the views of Members would be fed back to the Health Board.  He informed Members that there is logic to the proposals and a common approach and he looked forward to the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead.