1.35 While critical care staff were proud of their commitment to patient care, some (especially at Prince Philip) described the present configuration of critical care services as increasingly unsustainable, driven largely by consultant workforce shortages, high sickness absence, poor communication across sites, and challenges maintaining consistent specialist oversight. These pressures were said to have resulted in a sense of service erosion; and contributed to reduced morale, de-skilling, and difficulties retaining experienced staff.
1.36 Clinical partners, including the Acute Physical Deterioration Implementation Network and Welsh Critical Care Network, also recognised the Health Board’s challenges, and acknowledged the advantages of bringing critical care services together onto fewer sites to improve patient outcomes.
1.37 Across the public events and meetings, and on social media, consultees recognised the importance of maintaining high-quality critical care provision; and there was understanding of the Health Board’s challenges in offering this. There was also widespread concern about the proposed changes however, mainly relating to travel times along poor road networks. These concerns were particularly prevalent in Pembrokeshire.