Voices heard at hospital

They were asked their views on the hospital as part of an engagement exercise by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

 

The feedback was extremely positive with 82 per cent of people rating their experience at the hospital as either excellent or good.

 

Mark Smithies, Divisional Director for Primary, Community and Intermediate Care, said that the Health Board was pleased with the feedback but was also acting on suggestions for improvements.

 

He said: “The overwhelming feeling was that people wanted to see the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) open for longer and I am glad to say that has now started.

 

“We have also listened to how people view and use the hospital and will be relocating the main reception to be in front of the main entrance, improving signage for visitors and looking at developing an information centre with our third sector partners.”

 

Opening hours at the Minor Injury Unit had to be reduced last summer due to a shortage of appropriate staff.

 

To make sure there is enough time for patients to be treated properly and have access to things like X-ray and other support services staff will only be able to see new patients up until 3.30pm but the unit will remain open until 4.30pm.

 

Melanie Noble, an Emergency Nurse Practitioner at the Minor Injuries Unit, said: “Patients’ responses have been very positive with regards to the decision to return the MIU back to normal opening hours.

 

“Patients’ satisfaction of the MIU service has always been high and the public are very pleased with the excellent standard of care provided. The whole MIU team are delighted that the unit is being further developed.”  

 

As well as the return to normal opening hours Barry Hospital will also be piloting a new Phone First scheme. It will create a new service helping patients to make sure they are accessing the most appropriate care and direct them to either their local doctor or pharmacy, the MIU or GP Out of Hours Service or the Emergency Unit at University Hospital of Wales.

 

The pilot will run for six months before being assessed to see how it can help patients in the Vale of Glamorgan. More details on the Phone First project are due to be released in the coming weeks.

 

Mr Smithies said: “We are very pleased to have resumed normal opening hours at the MIU in time for the summer period.

 

“We will continue to work with staff at the Unit to review how that is going and to strengthen the services on offer at Barry Hospital.

 

“We have done a lot of work to talk to patients and staff about the services that they want to see at Barry Hospital and are continuing to look how we make sure we deliver the most beneficial care in the hospital and the community.”