Major hospital closing doors to emergency patients
A lack of 'sufficiently experienced doctors' is blamed for Neath Port Talbot Hospital turning away 999 patients from midnight.
Read the full storyLive updates
Neath Port Talbot hospital changes imminent
From midnight tonight, all 999 medical emergency and unplanned medical admissions to Neath Port Talbot hospital will end.
These services will instead be transferred to Morriston, Singleton and the Princess of Wales hospitals.
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health board says this is to ensure patients' safety because there's a shortage of suitably experienced doctors to run an Acute Medical Service.
The decision has led to strong opposition locally - but Abertawe Bro Morgannwg insists there are no plans to downgrade or close the hospital.
Advertisement
Health Minister denies hospital downgrade
The Health Minister, Lesley Griffiths, has denied that Neath Port Talbot Hospital is being downgraded. Although she told AMs that the local health board is right to consider ending acute care at the hospital because it cannot recruit suitably qualified doctors.
– Health Minister Lesley Griffiths AMI don't see it as a reduction in services, it's not about buildings, it's about services. Those services will be available elsewhere.
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Local Health Board is expected to go ahead with the proposal because it's been told that the hospital is not big enough to provide a suitable training environment for acute care doctors to develop their skills. Both the LHB and the minister deny that it's about saving money.
– Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood AMThe Labour Welsh Government has a responsibility to ensure that services are run in a safe way in their hospitals throughout Wales. They should not avoid their responsibilities by looking to close those services and centralise them elsewhere.**
Today's top stories
