Child friendly consultation document
Thank you for your interest in the children and young peoples' services consultation. This consultation has now concluded.
This is the children’s version. It may not include all the information but has the important parts.
Hello, we are Hywel Dda University Health Board. We run lots of health services across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, including hospitals. If you have to go to hospital, it’s important you get the help you need. We want to make the right plans so doctors, nurses and emergency staff can give you the best care. We have 3 stories (which we call ‘options’) about a boy going to hospital.
We’d like to know which one you think works the best!
This is Huw. He plays superheroes with this dad and Mario Kart with his brother. He likes living in Pembrokeshire. He loves popcorn and building robots.
He was cycling with his friends. He fell off his bike and hurt his arm.
His dad drove him to the Minor Injury Unit at Withybush Hospital. He had an x-ray that showed his arm wasn't broken.
His dad drove him to the Minor Injury Unit at Withybush Hospital. He had an x-ray that showed his arm wasn't broken. 
He was given some advice and if needed an appointment will be made for him to see a local doctor or nurse.
A few days later Huw felt ill. He was struggling to breathe and had a wheeze. So his dad too him to his local doctor's surgery.
This is where the story splits.
Huw sees a doctor at the local surgery, who then talks to the children’s doctor about how Huw is feeling.
The children’s doctor decides if Huw needs to see a specialist at Glangwili Hospital.
This is where all children have to go if they have a serious illness so they can stay in hospital overnight.
Huw stays overnight in Glangwili Hospital so children’s doctors and nurses can keep a check on him.
The next day the children’s doctors think Huw is ok and he can go home. They give Huw some advice and an appointment back at Withybush Hospital between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
If there’s an emergency Huw’s family can phone 999 and the ambulance crew will take him to Glangwili Hospital Emergency Department.
Option 1 would mean that all children’s health services work in the same way they do now, but with more appointments with children’s doctors or nurses provided.
Huw sees a doctor at the local surgery, who then talks to the children’s doctor about how Huw is feeling.
The children’s doctor decides that Huw should go into the Paediatric Ambulatory Care Unit (PACU*) at Withybush Hospital.
*PACU — Doctors and nurses at this unit can assess and treat ill children on the same day. They don’t have to stay overnight.
When he gets there Huw is assessed and given a care plan. Doctors and nurses keep a check on him up until 6pm. If Huw is getting better, he can go home and he’s given a follow-up appointment back at Withybush Hospital if he needs one.
Huw gets worse while he’s in the Paediatric Ambulatory Care Unit, so the doctor sends him to Glangwili Hospital in a Dedicated Ambulance Vehicle. It has staff that are trained in caring for children. Huw stays in Glangwilli hospital overnight.
Huw leaves hospital the next morning and is given a follow-up appointment at Withybush Hospital between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
If there’s an emergency Huw’s family can phone 999 and the ambulance crew will take him to Glangwili Hospital Emergency Department.
Option 2 would mean children and young people could be referred to the Paediatric Ambulatory Care Unit at Withybush Hospital and:
- Withybush Hospital would have more children’s health services available.
Huw sees a doctor at the local surgery, who then talks to the children’s doctor about how Huw is feeling.
The children’s doctor decides that Huw should go into the Paediatric Ambulatory Care Unit (PACU*) at Withybush Hospital.
*PACU — Doctors and nurses at this unit can assess and treat ill children on the same day. They don’t have to stay overnight.
When he gets there, Huw is assessed and given a care plan. In this option, he may have extra doctors and nurses to keep a check on him up until 6pm. If Huw is getting better, he can go home, and he will be given a follow-up appointment back at Withybush Hospital if he needs one.
Huw gets worse while he’s in the Paediatric Ambulatory Care Unit, so the doctor sends him to Glangwili Hospital in a Dedicated Ambulance Vehicle that has staff that are trained in caring for children. It takes him directly to the children’s ward.
Huw leaves hospital the next morning and is given a follow up appointment at Withybush Hospital between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
In an emergency Huw’s family can phone 999 and the ambulance crew will take him to Glangwili Hospital Emergency Department.
Option 3 would mean children and young people could be referred to the Paediatric Ambulatory Care Unit at Withybush Hospital and:
- Withybush Hospital would have more children’s health services available.
- Staff in the emergency departments in Withybush and Glangwili hospitals would receive extra training to look after children.
Rapid Access Clinic. When children and young people are referred, they are seen quickly by a children’s doctor at Withybush Hospital within 3 days.
In option 1 this is provided. In options 2 and 3 this is limited due to a lack of space due to PACU*
Booked outpatient appointments at Withybush Hospital if they don’t need an assessment or overnight stay.
In option 1 this is provided. In options 2 and 3 this is limited due to a lack of space due to PACU*
Paediatric Ambulatory Care Unit at Withybush Hospital open from 10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Doctors and nurses at this unit can assess and treat ill children on the same day. They don’t have to stay overnight.
This is not provided in option 1. In options 2 and 3 this would be.
Some non-emergency treatment and day care like returning for medication or dressing change.
In option 1 and 2 this is not provided. In option 3 it is.
Improved services at Glangwili Hospital emergency department (A&E) so children and young people have a better experience (like having a waiting area just for them).
In option 1 and 2 this is not provided. In option 3 it is.
Extra training for emergency department (A&E) staff at both hospitals to treat children and young people when a review by a children’s doctor is not needed.
In option 1 and 2 this is not provided. In option 3 it is.
Extra training for Paediatric Ambulatory Care Unit staff at Glangwili Hospital to manage emergency department (A&E) activity so it’s better for children and young people.
In option 1 and 2 this is not provided. In option 3 it is.
This will cost about £880,000 in option 1, £1.3 million in option 2 and in option 3 £1.3 million with the training provided by our own health board team.
PACU - Doctors and nurses at this unit can assess and treat ill children on the same day. They don't have to stay overnight.
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