(Title Image: NHS Wales)
The Welsh Government has tabled an Order paving the way for Bridgend to move from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg to the Cwm Taf health board on April 1st 2019 (pdf; explanatory memorandum – pdf).
It’s the first time the boundary of a local health board has been altered since the current health boards were established in 2009.
The switch was proposed because Bridgend Council already has high-level regional agreements with other local authorities in the Cardiff city region and it’s believed it would better align with proposed local government reforms.
Also, the downgrading of services at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant will result in more patients being sent to Bridgend’s Princess of Wales Hospital for some specialist services, meaning it makes more sense for both to be in the same health board.
As part of the move, the two health boards will get new names.
What’s currently called Abertawe Bro Morgannwg (covering Swansea and Neath Port Talbot) will be renamed Swansea Bay University Health Board. Cwm Taf (which will cover Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil) will be renamed Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.
The composition of the respective Community Health Councils will change as well. Cwm Taf Morgannwg will gain 12 members, while Swansea Bay will lose the same number. This is likely to be temporary, however, as the Welsh Government are proposing to replace Community Health Councils with a new body.
The move will cost just under £3million. £2.9million of that has been provided by the Welsh Government, while the two health boards have contributed around £100,000 each.
