Deeside residents lose out as vital hearing clinic is moved to Chester

Deeside residents will be forced to travel to Chester for vital hearing and Ear Nose and Throat clinics, the service run by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the Countess of Chester hospital is being moved from Deeside Community Hospital.

Both the BCU Health Board and the Countess of Chester hold hearing clinics at Deeside Hospital. 

The Health Board provides routine hearing clinics three times per month and also Audiology supports ENT outpatient clinics on two days per month.

Aston Councillor Helen Brown had been contacted by a upset Deeside resident who was told she will need to go to Chester in the future and attend hearing clinics at the Countess hospital.  

A BCU Health Board spokesperson said;

“The clinics run by the Countess of Chester are for Deeside residents who are referred to the Countess of Chester by their GP.  We understand that in future these patients will be seen at the Countess of Chester Hospital itself, and not at Deeside Hospital.”

The latest move comes after mounting criticism following the closure of wards due to staffing levels at the Hospital.

Staff shortages had been blamed on a combination of retirements, long-term sickness and a number of staff being on restricted duties while an investigation into standards of care is completed.

Twelve beds had to be taken out of use over the Christmas period last year as there were not enough staff to ensure the hospital could operate safely at normal capacity , managers had claimed the hospital had tried to hire agency staff.

Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru’s Assembly Member for North Wales, said: 

“This is the latest in a long list of service reductions across North Wales being blamed on staff shortages. I find it hard to believe that an organisation as large as Betsi Cadwaladr health board cannot plan to ensure there are sufficient nurses and doctors to ensure routine services can continue in community hospitals such as Deeside.

“It points to further downgrading of our health service when we should be looking to improve the level of care in the community, especially for these important but relatively routine services.”