Instead, the board has agreed to establish a 12‑hour Urgent Care Treatment Centre, bringing together the existing MIU and Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) services into a single, integrated hub.
From 24 hours to 12
The MIU has been operating on reduced hours since November 2024, opening daily from 8am to 8pm after Healthcare Inspectorate Wales raised concerns over overnight safety and staff shortages.
In March, the board considered whether a full 24‑hour rota could be reinstated, but concluded this was not possible. Following a 12‑week consultation earlier this year, which drew hundreds of responses and strong local feeling, four long‑term options were put forward. On Thursday, members opted for the urgent care model (Option 4a).
The new centre will:
- Open 8am–8pm, seven days a week (with staff on site for an additional two hours to close).
- Treat a wider range of urgent but non‑life‑threatening conditions, including minor injuries, minor illnesses, and urgent medical needs that don’t require an overnight stay.
- Provide Same Day Emergency Care currently accessed via GP referral.
Board voices
Professor Phil Kloer, Chief Executive, thanked staff, campaigners and the public for their input:
“We are looking to maintain a high‑quality service that is safe, sustainable, accessible and kind, that meets the needs of the people of Llanelli for the future.”
Mark Henwood, Executive Medical Director, described the decision as a “milestone”:
“We look forward to now implementing and delivering safe, sustainable minor injury and urgent care at Prince Philip Hospital.”
Campaigners respond
Local campaign group SOSPPAN (Save Our Services Prince Philip Action Network), which has long fought to protect services at the hospital, welcomed the outcome.
Chair Deryk Cundy said:
“We are pleased with the Board’s decision to support an Urgent Care Centre. We believe this new and enhanced service, combined with an effective 111 phone triage, will provide a service that is fit for now and the future.”
He added that SOSPPAN would continue to press for accessible mental health provision in Llanelli.
Why the change was needed
As Swansea Bay News has previously reported, the MIU’s overnight closure was introduced in late 2024 after inspectors raised safety concerns. The consultation confirmed that the previous 24‑hour model could not be reinstated safely or sustainably.
Dr Jon Morris, clinical lead for minor injuries, said the new model would reduce the number of patients redirected elsewhere:
“We have managed to recruit staff recently, but nowhere near enough to go back to a 24‑hour service.”
Next steps
- The new Urgent Care Treatment Centre is expected to be delivered within 6–12 months, allowing time for recruitment and infrastructure changes.
- The health board has committed to a six‑month evaluation once the service is up and running, looking at patient experience, outcomes, transport and staffing.
- In the meantime, the MIU will continue to operate 8am–8pm daily.
Patients needing emergency care overnight will continue to be directed to Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen or Morriston Hospital in Swansea.
The Welsh Government said it had not been consulted on the proposals in advance, but stressed that responsibility for safe and sustainable services lies with local NHS organisations.
