One former patient at a stroke unit which faces closure says that “many people would lose their lives” if the health board’s plans go ahead. Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board announced last month that stroke services at Prince Charles Hospital will close from Wednesday, January 8 and be temporarily relocated to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant due to a “severe shortage of specialist medical staff”.
40-year-old mum of two Louise Miller from the Gurnos, Merthyr suffered a stroke in December 2023 and says she “wouldn’t be here” without the stroke unit at PCH. She is worried that others like her could lose their lives as a result of the services being moved to the Royal Glamorgan.
More than 5,000 people have signed a petition calling on the health board to stop the closure of the acute stroke unit at PCH. The petition says that the closure “escalates the danger to the very people” the ward was set up to help.
On December 15, 2023, while pregnant, Louise suddenly became ill. Her vision blurred and her speech began to slur so she was rushed to the emergency department at PCH. Within days, she was told that she had suffered a stroke.
Louise said that the care she received at the stroke unit at PCH saved her life: “After being moved to the stroke team on ward 10, I was amazed by their exceptional care and support. They created a welcoming and comforting environment that felt like home.
“Over the next five weeks, they helped me regain my mobility, which had been severely affected by my inability to bear my own weight. They patiently allowed me to progress at my own pace, which helped reduce my fear of the long-term consequences of my stroke.”
Louise received the devastating news that her stroke was caused by her pregnancy and made the “difficult decision” to have an abortion, as continuing the pregnancy would put her life at risk. After having the procedure in Cardiff, Louise returned to PCH where the nurses “reaffirmed their commitment to my recovery, ensuring that I would return home safely.”
Louise is worried that others may not be as fortunate as her if they are forced to travel more than 20 miles to be treated at the Royal Glamorgan. She said: “I wouldn’t be here without the stroke unit and its staff at PCH. Closing the stroke ward would result in numerous lives lost as stroke requires immediate action.
“Having it in royal Glamorgan is utterly ridiculous. It would take at least 40 minutes, depending on traffic, to get there. The stroke team at Prince Charles is a necessity for the community and surrounding areas.
“Closing it would be a terrible decision. Many people would lose their lives, and it would prevent them from receiving treatment as soon as possible. The ward must be kept open”
Ceri Edwards has had a number of close experiences with the ward as her dad David Edwards had around 20 strokes of varying severity and was treated at PCH on numerous occasions. Like Louise, she is worried that moving the unit to Royal Glamorgan could have a detrimental impact on patient care.
David sadly died at age 83 in 2020 after suffering a catastrophic stroke but Ceri credits the unit and its dedication for giving the family more time with her dad. She is worried that other families may not get this opportunity if access to treatment at PCH is lost.
David Edwards
(Image: Ceri Edwards)
David with his daughter Tirion, wife Lorraine and daughter Ceri
(Image: Ceri Edwards)
She said: “My dad was a force of nature – a really strong character and as a farmer, he was physically strong too. [The unit at PCH] extended his life, through his various treatments, and got him through the majority of his strokes. Once he’d had treatment, he was still able to get to the stables and see the love of his life, which were his horses.
“The unit gave my father more years with his family. He was able to see his great granddaughter being born and the first years of her life which brought joy to him. We are so indebted to the NHS and to Prince Charles for allowing us to have those years with him.
“We were devastated when we lost him, but it could have happened years earlier if he didn’t have the correct treatment. The many more years that we were fortunate to have with him were as a result of having local and prompt treatment. We want other families to be able to have that.”
The family were based in the Rhymney valley so could get to PCH quickly for their dad to access treatment. She said while, like most hospitals, there could be delays at A&E, once her dad was admitted to the ward the family’s experiences were very positive.
“When we got through to the stroke unit, we found that the staff were very amenable, really helpful and put the patients’ best interests at the forefront, which was key. He was always determined that he would improve and the ward was really good for him.”
Ceri added that the additional delay of having to travel further to get to the Royal Glamorgan, on top of the well-documented delays often faced in waiting for ambulances and at A&E departments, could have a harmful impact on patients’ recovery prospects.”
She said: “The concern I have about the closure of the unit is that the unit needs to be in the heart of the community it is serving. It needs to be close for people to be able to get to the unit.
“To have to go the extra distance when presenting with a stroke is worrying. Any time delay can significantly hinder recovery.” For the latest Merthyr Tydfil news, sign up to our newsletter here
David got to spend more time with his horses and loved ones
(Image: Ceri Edwards)
He saw his grandson Jake earn a Welsh cap
(Image: Ceri Edwards)
As well as concerns for patient care, there are also significant worries about the impact this will have on families. Ceri explained that due to there being no direct public transport routes between many areas served by PCH and the Royal Glamorgan, it will become far more difficult for families to visit relatives.
She said: “It could take you hours to get back and forth to the Royal Glamorgan. A lot of the areas are deprived and people are on low incomes, so it will not be easy to cover the cost of travelling longer distances either.
“Following a stroke, rehabilitation can take weeks if not months so people can be in hospital for long periods and relatives and spouses want to be with them as often as possible.”
Ceri explained that the unit being so far away is “not conducive” to creating a nurturing environment for stroke patients. “Many of the patients need their family around when they are going through something so traumatic. They want somebody that they can recognise and is able to give them the support they need.”
Ceri also questioned why PCH or the health board had not foreseen the issues with staff shortages and asked whether recruitment could have begun earlier so there was no break in service. She also echoed worries raised by others that the unit will not reopen: “With all the cost-cutting in the NHS, there is the worry that if they have a problem in recruiting a consultant, that could be the final nail in the coffin for the unit.”
As well as widespread objections from local people who fear the changes could cost lives, local MP Gerald Jones also raised concerns following the announcement made by CTMUHB. He described the closure as “deeply worrying”, adding: “I fear that this could not only hinder recovery, but also endanger lives.”
On top of the concerns about patient safety, there are also worries about the future of staff who currently work at the unit. The petition says that “The meticulous team of over 40 personnel built over many years is now at risk of being dispersed by this reckless decision.”
A spokesperson for the health board said: “The temporary change being made to inpatient stroke services in CTMUHB on Wednesday, January 8 is as a result of severe medical staffing shortages. The safety of the care we provide is our first priority and we do not have the number of specialist stroke doctors to provide a safe service at both hospitals at this time.
“We appreciate the concern that the announcement about this urgent change has caused. However, a lack of specialist staff in the UK, worsened by long-term sickness and absence within the CTMUHB stroke team, means it is currently not possible to maintain a safe acute stroke service across two hospitals.
“Making this change means CTMUHB can continue to provide a service that saves lives and reduces the devastating effects of stroke for as many patients as possible.
“It is important to understand that this change does not affect the ability of emergency departments at any of our hospitals – including Prince Charles Hospital, or Princess of Wales, Bridgend – to treat those attending with a stroke or suspected stroke. This means that any patient suffering with a stroke who attends any of our emergency departments will continue to be provided with the urgent initial treatment they need, swiftly and expertly before going on to receive inpatient care at a specialist unit.
“Patients suffering with a stroke or suspected stroke who are transported by emergency ambulance will either be transported directly to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, or to their nearest specialist stroke unit, depending on where they live.
“Considerable resources have been spent, and continue to be spent on stroke services, including on temporary staff, as we attempt to maintain a service for our communities within CTM and beyond and we are continuing to actively recruit specialist stroke doctors to our health board.
“We recognise that some people may face particular challenges when trying to visit a loved one who has had a stroke and is being cared for in a hospital that is further away. If people do experience any particular challenges, we advise them to speak with our PALS team who will discuss ways in which we can support you.”