INDEPENDENT and Plaid Cymru councillors in Llanelli have expressed deep concern over plans by Hywel Dda University Health Board to reduce the operating hours of the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at Prince Philip Hospital. Under the proposal, the unit will close from 8pm to 8am for the next six months, leaving the community without round-the-clock urgent care services.
The councillors, representing both Llanelli Town and Llanelli Rural Councils, have called on the Welsh Government and Health Minister Jeremy Miles to intervene and stop the reduction in services. They argue that the largest town in West Wales, with a population of over 49,000, deserves a full-time MIU, if not an Accident & Emergency (A&E) department.
In a joint press release, the councillors voiced their alarm at the Health Board’s decision to cut overnight services in response to concerns raised by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) following an unannounced inspection last year.
“While we accept the concerns raised by HIW regarding patient safety, it is staggering that Hywel Dda’s solution to these issues is to cut the service,” the councillors said. “The community already lacks an A&E department, and now it seems we will not even have a full-time MIU.”
The press release, signed by seven councillors, including Cllr. Michael Cranham, Cllr. Sean Rees, and Cllr. Louvain Roberts, outlined their intention to bring formal motions in the coming weeks, requesting that Hywel Dda University Health Board representatives attend a council meeting to discuss the rationale behind the decision. The councillors are demanding answers to key questions, including why the Health Board has opted for a six-month period and whether there is a risk the MIU could remain part-time permanently.
“We require answers,” the councillors said. “Has every possible alternative been explored before making this decision? Will the Health Board try to restore 24/7 service during the next six months, or will this be a minimum period of reduced service?”
The councillors are also calling on the Welsh Government to step in, given that healthcare is a devolved matter. “Llanelli is the largest town in West Wales and should have its own A&E department, but now we don’t even have a full-time MIU. We are calling on Welsh Government and the Health Minister to intervene and prevent further cuts to health services in our town.”
The proposed cuts come after growing concerns about patient safety and staffing pressures at Prince Philip Hospital. An inspection by HIW in June 2023 found that the hospital’s MIU was struggling to maintain safe levels of service due to difficulties in recruiting qualified staff, particularly for night shifts. The unit has relied heavily on Emergency Nurse Practitioners, who are trained to treat minor injuries but cannot provide GP-led care or manage more complex medical cases.
Hywel Dda University Health Board responded to these concerns by proposing a temporary six-month reduction in the MIU’s operating hours, limiting it to a 12-hour service from 8am to 8pm. The board argues that this measure is necessary to ensure patient safety while they explore long-term solutions to staffing shortages.
Andrew Carruthers, Director of Operations at Hywel Dda University Health Board, explained the reasoning behind the decision: “Our priority is ensuring the safety of patients. The staffing shortages, particularly in the evening and overnight, have made the current service increasingly unsafe. This temporary reduction in hours will allow us to address the concerns raised while ensuring the safety of those using the service.”
However, local politicians, including Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith, have voiced strong opposition to the move. Griffith previously raised concerns about the potential reduction in MIU hours in November 2023, urging the Health Board to reconsider. “I told the Health Board’s chief executive that Llanelli is deeply concerned about any reduction in opening times. It is vital that we have accessible medical services available locally, especially for a town of our size,” she said.
The proposed reduction in MIU hours follows a broader trend of healthcare cuts in Llanelli. Prince Philip Hospital no longer has an A&E department, with patients requiring emergency trauma care now being taken to larger hospitals in Carmarthen or Swansea. The MIU, which treats a range of injuries such as sprains, fractures, and minor burns, has been a critical service for the local community.
Llanelli Town Council leader David Darkin has also been outspoken in his criticism of the Health Board’s decision, stating: “Llanelli people deserve to have access to vital medical aid 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Anything less is a disaster for our community, which has already seen its services cut back in recent years. We need more health services, not fewer.”
There is widespread concern that reducing the MIU’s hours will place further strain on already overstretched Accident and Emergency departments at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen and Morriston Hospital in Swansea. These departments are already dealing with high patient numbers and long waiting times, and the influx of patients from Llanelli is expected to exacerbate the situation.
The Independent and Plaid Cymru councillors have pledged to oppose Hywel Dda University Health Board’s proposal, emphasising the importance of maintaining full-time healthcare services in Llanelli. They plan to bring formal motions at upcoming Llanelli Town and Llanelli Rural Council meetings to request that Health Board representatives attend and explain their decision directly to the councils.
The councillors are demanding clarity on several key points, including why the decision was made for a six-month reduction in hours rather than a shorter period, whether the Health Board will actively work to restore a 24/7 service within that time, and whether the MIU could be at risk of becoming part-time permanently. They insist that the Health Board explore all possible alternatives before making this decision final.
