Casualty walk-in plans approved

Campaigners wanted a full public consultation on the changes.

Plans for GPs to take over the running of a minor casualty unit can go ahead without further public consultation, an NHS watchdog has ruled.

Swansea's community health council (CHC) backed proposals for the walk-in service at Singleton Hospital.

NHS managers had warned that due to a lack of qualified doctors current arrangements were not safe or sustainable.

But campaigners accused them of putting a gun to the head of councillors.

The Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust said the department, which treats around 60 people a day, was forced to close 29 times in July due to a shortage of doctors.

The trust said the changes would ensure the unit was retained and rejected claims it amounted to a "downgrading" as it would cost an additional £500,000 a year to run.

Senior A&E consultant Mike McCabe told Tuesday's meeting: "We're on the brink of a collapse of the service.

I feel that the trust put a pistol to the head of CHC members by suggesting that the unit might have to close Dave Warren, Save Our Services campaign

"The unpredictable nature of the service [in its current form] is causing great difficulties. Patients are turning up with no doctor available."

He said the trust has tried unsuccessfully to recruit staff grade doctors but there was a shortage throughout the UK.

The new arrangements will mean about 90% of patients previously seen at Singleton will continue to receive treatment there.

But all 999 calls where people require resuscitation will in future be directed to the A&E unit at Morriston Hospital on the other side of the city.

Community health councillors voted five to two in favour of the changes which means work can start on their implementation.

A petition collected by Uplands councillor Peter May containing 2,603 signatures calling for further consultation was handed in to the meeting.

'Brow beaten'

Speaking after the vote, he said he was disappointed as there would be "major changes" to the service.

Dave Warren, of the Save Our Services campaign which was opposed to the plans, said: "I'm very disappointed.

"I feel that the trust put a pistol to the head of CHC members by suggesting that the unit might have to close.

"The meeting was dominated by the big guns from the trust and people opposing them were brow beaten."

Before the meeting began, the trust revised its proposals extending opening hours to 24 hours and pledging no patients would be turned away from Singleton.

A joint monitoring group to review the service will be set up with a full evaluation report after six months.