Staff shortage shuts evening A&E

The hospital says there is a shortage of anaesthetists

A hospital in south west Wales has been forced to close its doors to evening emergencies because of a lack of holiday cover.

Prince Phillip hospital in Llanelli has blamed the 1700BST shut down on a shortage of anaesthetists.

For the past two weeks, patients have been redirected 20 miles away to the West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen or to Morriston Hospital near Swansea which is around 15 miles away.

It is very upsetting for patients but there are no guarantees that it won't happen again

Martin Morris, Llanelli CHC

Llanelli Community Health Council - an independent watchdog which monitors the service provided for NHS patients - has said they are "very disappointed" with the situation.

Chief officer for the health council, Martin Morris, said: "It highlights the problem of recruiting and retention of staff in the NHS in general."

The hospital explained it was having problems with acquiring anaesthetists at all grades.

The Carmarthenshire facility still has vacant posts to fill including that of a consultant anaesthetist.

A spokesperson for Carmarthenshire NHS Trust said: "That shortage means that, on a temporary basis, a small number of out-of-hours emergency surgical admissions are being redirected to West Wales General Hospital or Morriston Hospital.

"Emergency surgical cases are still being admitted to Prince Philip Hospital until 5pm each day, and other areas of the hospital - notably accident and emergency - are unaffected."

The "small number" of emergency cases is around one or two each night.

Recruiting problems

According to the health council the recruitment problem was going to happen "sooner or later".

Mr Morris, said: "It is very upsetting for patients but there are no guarantees that it won't happen again.

"It is very disappointing and shows the shortage across south Wales in certain specialties."

Carmarthenshire NHS Trust said it was trying to recruit locum anaesthetic cover and it was hopeful the problem could be resolved shortly.

In February, a trainee consultant anaesthetist at Prince Phillip hospital was found guilty of serious professional misconduct after giving a lethal dose of painkillers to a patient.

At the same hospital, two surgeons have been charged with unlawfully killing a pensioner after removing his healthy kidney.