Mixed welcome for radical Welsh trust cuts proposals

The plans to cut the number of trusts from 29 to 15 on 1 April next year have infuriated campaigners in parts of Dyfed Powys and Gwent anxious to retain locally based trusts.

But they have pleased groups behind a 14,000 signature petition opposing Bro Taf health authority recommendations to create a single trust in the north of its area.

Keith Reynolds, chief officer of Merthyr and Cynon Valley community health council, said he was 'absolutely delighted' that two integrated trusts were proposed, serving East Glamorgan/Rhondda and North Glamorgan.

Launching the proposals last week, Welsh health minister Win Griffiths acknowledged that 'some groups and individuals would disagree' with the plans, which are subject to public consultation this summer.

But he claimed the arrangements would 'encourage collaboration' and save 'more than£10m a year'.

If the proposals go ahead, 12 integrated trusts will be created in Wales.

Cardiff will be left with one acute and one community trust, with integration as a long-term aim.

The 15th trust will be the all-Wales ambulance trust created by the merger of five Welsh ambulance services last week.

Brecon and Radnorshire MP Richard Livsey said campaigners fighting for a single trust in Powys felt 'very badly let down' by proposals to create a Powys/Ceredigion trust.

'If the Welsh Office thinks we are going to take this lying down they are wrong, ' he told the Journal . 'There are some officials who seem hooked on the idea that big is beautiful, but we will go to the wire on this one.'

Martin Woodford, chief executive of Powys Health Care trust, said directors had done 'everything possible' to argue the case for a Powys trust.

'However, although the final decision is not yet made, and although Powys Action for Patients will no doubt keep up the fight this summer, officers of the trust have a public responsibility to make sure that the likely outcome is well prepared for, ' he said.

Campaigners against a merger between Llanelli and Dinefwr trust and Carmarthen and District trust have also been angered by Mr Griffiths' announcement.

In north Gwent, John Hopkins, deputy leader of Blaenau Gwent county borough council, said he was 'desperately disappointed' that Mr Griffiths had 'ignored' a local campaign in favour of two trusts based at Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny and Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport. A single trust is proposed.

But Martin Turner, chief executive of Glan Hafren trust, which runs the Royal Gwent, said 'the two-trust option is gone. The one-trust option is what we need to work with'.

He added: 'I believe this is quite exciting. When people in Gwent realise it will mean a better service they will support it.'

Project boards have been set up to manage the transition process and develop public consultation documents.

A final decision on reconfiguration will be taken in October.

The proposed trusts are:

North Wales HA area: three integrated trusts, covering west, central and east North Wales. Dyfed Powys HA area: a Llanelli/Carmarthen trust; a Powys/Ceredigion trust; Pembrokeshire and Derwen trust (substantially unaffected). Morgannwyg HA area: two integrated trusts serving the west and east of the area. Gwent HA area: a single trust.

Bro Taf HA area: an East Glamorgan/Rhondda trust; North Glamorgan trust (substantially unaffected); a community, mental health and dental trust in Cardiff; an acute and specialist services trust for Cardiff; Velindre trust (substantially unaffected).