A Swansea Valley councillor has blasted her local health board for arranging a public consultation meeting and then not telling anyone about it. Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (ABMU) is currently conducting a public engagement which focuses on proposals for changes to urgent care services in Singleton and Neath Port Talbot hospitals. The proposals include closing the Minor Injury Unit at Neath Port Talbot Hospital overnight to ensure more staff are available at peak times and in Singleton hospital merging its four different systems for urgent and unscheduled care patients into one.
When Councillor Linet Purcell found out that the health board was organising drop in sessions to discuss the proposals, and that one had not been planned for Pontardawe, she asked for one to take place in the town.
The health board agreed but she says they neglected to inform the public – or Mrs Purcell herself.
She said: “By 5pm the session, manned by two members of staff, had received only three visitors.
“This was appallingly badly organised and represents both a waste of money and a missed opportunity for residents affected by these changes to discuss and comment on the proposals, and I shall be seeking assurances from the health board that lessons in communication will be learned from this.
“It is still possible, however, for residents to comment on the proposals online.”
A spokeswoman for the health board said the consultation process had publicised through a range of methods, including an ongoing social media campaign, which has so far reached over 55,000, and been shared more than 200 times.
Of the Pontardawe meeting she added: “We were contacted by councillors in the Pontardawe area requesting that an additional drop-in event be arranged for their area. Although this wasn’t in the schedule, we were happy to oblige.
“There appears to have been some miscommunication about this additional session, and we apologise if the information about it did not reach as many people as it should have.
“We are happy to put on another drop-in event in Pontardawe if that is requested.
“Meanwhile, residents are still welcome to attend the two remaining drop-in sessions in Croeserw and Swansea, or the public meetings in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot next month. They can also go online to find out more and give their views, via the microsite within our main ABMU website: www.abm.wales.nhs.uk.”
