Due to the similarities between the sites, groups of people who considered them from certain viewpoints (see earlier content on ‘What has happened so far’) found the differences between them were often too small to have an impact on site recommendations:
Through the land selection process for our new Urgent and Planned Care Hospital, we undertook engagement with our clinical teams. This work included a process to identify which clinical and support services may have their viability for providing services impacted by the specific siting of the new hospital within an area of the agreed zone between and including Narberth and St Clears (i.e. either further east, central, or west). This exercise, combined with a previous commitment from our Health Board to further explore the impact of a new hospital on women and children’s services, resulted in two clinical appraisals.
They were:
The clinical expert group for stroke services found any of the areas within the zone would be suitable for a new Urgent and Planned Care Hospital due to the focus on how patients are treated beyond their admission.
The expert group for obstetrics, neonatal services and paediatrics had the viewpoint that there was a difference for the services in the positioning of the hospital within different areas of the zone.