27.09.12
Towards central care
The concept of reorganising care is changing from a necessity to a reality in South Wales, as a programme of reform identifies new regional health centres to deliver specialist services in a more centralised way.
With NHS directors concerned about the reality of meeting a £20bn efficiency target by 2015, and predicting a fall in quality of care, such a change is increasingly vital.
Opponents to such schemes, typically the people who are set to lose their local hospital, argue that having to travel further for care will risk patient safety.
But this extra journey time must be weighed against what is best for those very patients, as well as those in other areas.
Centralised services can offer greater expertise, up-to-date technology and best practice for everyone.
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