Hospital campaigner resigns from Llandudno project board

Sep 2 2010 by Judith Phillips, North Wales Weekly News

A HOSPITAL campaigner has resigned from a body which is mapping out the future of Llandudno Hospital in protest at the decision to close the minor injuries unit at night.

Carol Marubbi, is furious that the hospital project board went along with the decision by the Betsi Cadwaldwr University Health Board to close the facility between the hours of 10pm and 8am due to a shortage of doctors to man it.

“I cannot support the nighttime closure of the MIU. Llandudno is a seaside resort with a high seasonal population, and right on the doorstep of the hospital are two of the most deprived areas in Wales,” she said.

“Many people from these areas don’t have their own transport, and the cost of getting to the district general hospitals at Bangor and Bodelwyddan at night will be too high for them as the only way they will be able to get there is by taxi.”

Miss Marubbi has suffered ill health which meant she wasn’t able to attend the meetings of the project board where the MIU issue was discussed and voted on.

“If I had been able to attend I would have voted against the nighttime closure,” she said.

However she is fully supportive of the other work being done by the project board.

“I think it has come up with some excellent ideas for Llandudno Hospital, which I fully support, but I feel I would be a hypocrite to stay on it when I’m so opposed to the MIU hours being cut,” she said.

Meanwhile she and fellow campaigners Linda Groom and Doreen Websell have started a petition asking the Health Board to reconsider the nighttime closure.

“It’s only been out for a short time but we have collected going on for 1,000 signatures which we believe shows the strength of feeling in the community against this,” she added.

The new opening hours came into force on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the health board said the changes were necessary to ensure staff were available to provide patient care when the unit is at its busiest during the day .

“During the past 12 months attendances at the unit overnight have been minimal with a number of nights having no attendances at all,” he said.

“The impact of the changes will be continually monitored to ensure that the most effective service is delivered.

“This change is driven by our commitment to ensure that patients are safely cared for at all times. This has been discussed with a range of stakeholders. This includes the Hospital Action Group, Hospital League of Friends and the Community Health Council.

“The Community Health Council are fully supportive of these changes.”

judith.phillips