A&E At Royal Glamorgan Hospital Will Remain Open As A Full 24-Hour Consultant, Led Service

Local politicians have declared the decision to recommend that a full-time, consultant-led A&E is retained at the Royal Glamorgan hospital as ‘fantastic news’.

The recommendation by the South Wales Programme Project Group will be put to the full Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board meeting on 29 June 2020.

Congratulating all those involved in the campaign, Mick Antoniw said:

“Together we made the case for retaining our local A&E and the Health Board has listened.  This decision reflects well on all concerned and this is a great day for everyone in Taff Ely and beyond.

“So often the NHS has been there for us.  Today, we can all say that we were all there for our NHS.”

I am so pleased at this decision and for everyone who worked so hard, including the Save the Royal Glamorgan A&E campaign group, the trades unions and all my local Welsh Labour colleagues.  The sense of shared community and determination during this campaign has been truly inspirational.”

Adding her congratulations, Alex Davies-Jones said:

“This is the result that the everyone wanted to see and have worked so hard for.  It is a tribute to the energy and determination of the community campaign that we have all been a part of.     

“There had been an increasing feeling of optimism within the campaign and I congratulate Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board on upping its game on recruitment, which removed the greatest barrier to retaining our A&E.   

“Mick and I said at the outset that we would stand with our constituents and that nothing less than a full time, consultant-led A&E at the Royal Glamorgan would do.  As a community we have achieved that aim and everyone involved can take credit for this fantastic result.”

Rhondda MS Leanne Wood has said:

“This is the moment we dared to dream about when plans to reduce services were dusted off at the beginning of the year,”

“Everyone in the Rhondda will now be overjoyed and relieved as this is our main district general hospital and it should be offered a wide range of comprehensive services.

“It was clear that the campaign to retain 24 hour services had logic, reason and safety on its side.  Our argument to retain and boost staffing levels with a clear and energetic recruitment drive was strong enough but when the coronavirus pandemic occurred, the importance of hospital capacity and local services was reinforced significantly.

“People fought the health board and the Labour Government’s plans with great passion, commitment and determination.

“This has been a tremendous victory for people-power and I would like to salute everyone that turned up to our public meetings, signed petitions, wrote to the Labour Health Minister and attended rallies. My message to everyone that took part was that ‘you were seen, you were heard and you managed to keep our 24 hour A&E department at the Royal Glamorgan.’

“Diolch yn fawr to you all.”

Leanne added: “To run parallel with this decision will be moves to ensure as many people are treated within their GP surgery or local minor injuries unit to ease the pressure on A&E.

“There will also be a review of how the service is running in a year’s time so we must remain vigilant and be ready to resurrect our campaigning efforts if need be.

“The Labour Government in Wales has not renounced their desire for the centralisation of hospital services – far from it. Until they do, we must be ready to fight any attempt to take our vital local health services away from our communities.”

Commenting on the news that Royal Glamorgan Hospital A&E is to be retained as a 24 hour consultant led service, Pontypridd Councillor Heledd Fychan said:

“It is absolutely fantastic news that the proposal going to the Health Board next week is that the Royal Glamorgan Hospital A&E is to be retained as a 24 hour consultant led service. We all know how essential this service is for our community, and know that lives will have been saved because of its retention. This is a huge victory for local residents and the local community that have campaigned for the retention of this service. 

Thank you to the thousands of people who signed a petition, wrote to the Health Board, Welsh Government and local politicians, and displayed posters and ribbons. People power has won the day with logical and well thought out arguments. I would like to say a special thank you to the SRGAE (Save Royal Glamorgan Accident and Emergency) Campaign Group for all of their efforts.”

Commenting on reports that A & E services will be retained at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Shadow Health Minister Angela Burns said:

“If these reports are correct, then they make very reassuring news for people living in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board area, and a victory for common sense.”

“On behalf of people in the area, to save lives, we told the Welsh Government to listen, and it has. This win throws down a marker that Welsh Conservatives will protect NHS Wales services.

“Now it must look at improving emergency waiting times across this and other health boards in Wales, because although services have been required less during the pandemic, the Minister and his government cannot afford to be complacent about health in Wales.”