Pain patients 'left high and dry' by Oswestry clinic closure
Patients from Mid Wales have been "left high and dry” by the closure of Oswestry Orthopaedic’s pain clinic, a politician has said.
Montgomeryshire AM Russell George says he has received reports that patients in Montgomeryshire have not been kept informed of their options for pain management after the closure.
The chronic pain service, which was provided at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital and served more than 400 patients in Mid Wales, was intended to reduce suffering and enhance quality of life for people with chronic pain conditions.
It closed on March 31 after a fall in the number of patients being referred to the hospital and an internal review which found that the service was too fragile to continue safely because of operational and clinical challenges.
Since then it is claimed that some patients in North Powys have received no communication from Powys Teaching Health Board or any assurances regarding their future pain management provision.
Concern
Mr George said: “The recent closure of the chronic pain service at the RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry was already concerning for hundreds of people in North Powys who relied on this invaluable service.
“This concern has been compounded by the poor communication from Powys Teaching Health Board about the options for future pain management for Powys patients.
“I have been very disappointed to have received correspondence from a significant number of constituents who have reported to me that they have received nothing by way of communications from Powys Teaching Health Board. I have formally written to the CEO, Carol Shillabeer, to express my disappointment.
“Apart from the matter of what appears to be poor communication with concerned patients, I will continue to urge the Health Board to offer a local clinic to be provided in Montgomeryshire.”
In response, Adrian Osborne of Powys Teaching Health Board said: “We are very sorry that some patients are concerned about their continuity of care and communication
“The PTHB Pain Management Service is writing to each patient who has been transferred from RJAH. However, any patient previously under the care of the RJAH Chronic Pain Service can contact the PTHB Pain Management Service if they remain concerned about their follow-up arrangements.”
