Protests as health bosses discuss potential Royal Glamorgan Hospital A&E closure
Protestors have gathered outside a health board meeting in Abercynon as bosses discuss the potential closure of the Royal Glamorgan Hospital A&E department.
It comes after a health boss admitted the department in Llantrisant isn't "as safe as they'd like it to be" ahead of a board meeting to debate proposals on its future.
Nick Lyons, Executive Medical Director for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, told ITV Cymru Wales there have been incidents in the department directly related to the "fragility" of the current staffing model.
The proposals to downgrade the A&E department are part of a large-scale consultation.
It is designed to address major challenges in the health service in Wales, which include recruiting and retaining highly-skilled staff.
Nick Lyons said, "Can we maintain three ED departments that are fully staffed? That we can't do.
"As we said six years ago, it was decided that Royal Glamorgan was the site that didn't have that long term future of its ED department, but we need to re-look at what the right thing is."
Some protestors have expressed concerned about whether other nearby A&E departments will be able to cope if the Royal Glamorgan Hospital A&E closes.
Margaret Davies, who joined the protest, said: "There were 65,000 people that went to A&E in Royal Glamorgan last year - where will all those 65,000 people go?
"Merthyr can't cope with them, Bridgend won't cope with them, and neither will Cardiff."
In 2016, the Royal Glamorgan Hospital made changes to the way emergency care was given.
Patients needing access to A&E required a referral via a GP, paramedic or from within the department.
The four proposals being discussed are:
Removing A&E at the Royal Glamorgan and turning it into a 24-hour minor injuries unit;
Removing A&E at the Royal Glamorgan and turning it into a 24-hour (enhanced) minor injuries unit, with enhanced community and primary;
Retaining the status quo;
Retaining a consultant-led department during daytime hours.
Within the board papers, it has already been recommended that option one and option three be rejected, meaning the other two options left would see significant downgrading of the service.
Serious incidents would be directed or referred to A&E departments at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, Princess of Wales in Bridgend or the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.
People within Rhondda Cynon Taf have expressed their concerns over the proposals with many saying it will put 'lives at risk', and only put more pressure on other surrounding A&E departments.
Members of the public are expected to attend the meeting and the health board said it is looking into a "number of options to make sure people can hear what is being discussed."
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "We expect the health board to work with its partners to consider options and agree a sustainable model of care for the future."