Staff shortages lead to reduced hours at cancer unit

Staff shortages at Bronglais Hospital’s chemotherapy day unit led to it being closed last week and now operating on reduced hours.

The health board is adamant however that staffing at the unit, which the local community raised £500,000 for, will back to normal soon.

Concerns have been raised over cancer patients having to travel to Carmarthen, Llanelli or Swansea for chemotherapy treatment.

Readers contacted the Cambrian News to raise concerns over the future of the unit.

Hywel Dda University Health Board has allayed fears however, saying that staff shortages are being addressed, with one new nurse expected to begin at the end of this month.

Addressing the concerns, Eiry Edmunds, Deputy Medical Director at Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “The Cancer Day Unit at Bronglais Hospital is open and providing the same amount of treatment hours as usual.

“However, we are temporarily closed on a Friday. This is due to a number of staff vacancies and we need to be confident that cancer services can continue to be delivered safely and sustainably.

“We cannot cover absences or vacancies with bank nurses because the skills required to administer chemotherapy are specialised and require specialist training.

“However, the team are working condensed hours on Monday-Thursday from 8am-6pm.

“We think this is a more efficient way to provide the same amount of treatment hours when staffing is a challenge. There are always at least three nurses on duty to cover six treatment chairs.

“We are currently advertising for new staff and one of the posts will be filled by the end of the month. We have staff with the necessary skills travelling across the health board from the other units to work at Bronglais when this is possible.

“Patients may be given options for faster treatment at Glangwili or Withybush hospitals if there is the potential for a longer wait at Bronglais.

“In this case we would have a conversation with the with the patient with full consideration of their individual clinical scenario. No patient who needs chemotherapy will have to go to Swansea for treatment."

“These are all business-as-usual adjustments that we make at all four of the Cancer Units in Hywel Dda when there are staffing constraints, so it is not unique to Bronglais.

“We would ask any person being treated for cancer at Bronglais to talk to us if they have any concerns or contact our Patient Support Team on 0300 0200 159 or by email at: [email protected]."

Reacting, local health campaigners, Protect Bronglais Services said: “PBS is pleased that in this instance the Cambrian News has received a clear and comprehensive response from the Health Board - significantly rare

“This will hopefully reassure many cancer patients who receive their chemo at Bronglais.

“It’s good to hear that one of the posts advertised will be filled in the next month.

“PBS will be keeping a close watch at what is going on and we welcome feedback from chemotherapy patients as to their experiences over the next few weeks.

“We understand that some patients may be advised to travel to Glangwili or Withybush to obtain faster treatment whilst staff shortages are ongoing and this is concerning; this must never become the accepted norm. This would be a huge step backwards.

“In terms of how these patients would be transferred to these other sites, we'd like further detail on this: which agency will be charged with doing this and what provisions will be made to ensure that appointments are not missed?

“The journeys proposed are long and on difficult roads - not ideal for any patients, particularly those who are elderly and unfortunately, we've recently been hearing that in so far as patient transport to other hospital sites is concerned, Hywel Dda UHB fail spectacularly.

“At a time when trust in the Health Board is at rock bottom, they must surely understand that they need to keep the public informed at all times and there must be clarity about all changes and developments at Bronglais Hospital.”

Leri Cancer Ward opened its doors following a £3 million refurbishment in May last year, with the local community fundraising more than £500,000 to help fund the work.

The refurbishment has transformed what was previously one cramped room described as a “thoroughfare” used for cancer patients, all treatments and staff, into a dedicated unit with separate treatment rooms, waiting areas, outpatient facilities, multi-purpose rooms for talks and counselling, and even a dedicated room for young patients.

Speaking at the opening last year, Gina Beard, Lead Cancer Nurse for Hywel Dda University Health Board, said the new unit will transform care for both patients and staff: “It is the realisation of many years of wanting to provide the right kind of environment for patients to receive cancer treatment in this neck of the woods.

“We’ve been meeting every month for the last eight years as a project group to try and bring this to reality, and we open this weekend!”

The unit will treat an average of 300 patients a year from across Ceredigion, south Gwynedd and north Powys.