20.08.12
Welsh intensive neo-natal care could be moved to England
The Betsi Cadwaladr health board review consultation opens today, with patient groups opposing the proposed changes.
A North Wales health group is against plans to base intensive neo-natal care in England, with concerns that it will be too far to travel.
Longer term intensive care could be moved to Arrowe Park hospital in the Wirral for babies needing a complex level of care. Services are currently provided at Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire and at Wrexham Maelor hospital.
The health board wants to create a single neonatal intensive care service for north Wales babies needing long-term care. All three hospitals will continue to provide short term care, special care baby units and high dependency units.
The plans are part of wider proposals to strengthen health service provision at hubs throughout the region and also include the closure of community hospitals and minor treatment units.
The Glan Clwyd’s Special Care Baby Unit support group Cuddles is opposing the plans, calling them a “retrograde step”.
The consultation will run for ten week and can be found at: www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/page.cfm?orgid=836&pid=62272
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