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<p>Liverpool University Hospital Trust contacted Betsi Cadwaladr University Health
Board in March 2019 to outline its position regarding urology services for residents
of North Wales. This position was twofold:</p><p>The Trust and the Health Board agreed
that new referrals of bladder cancer patients for radical cystectomy would cease from
5 April 2019. This was due to reduced specialist surgical cover following a 12 month
period of maternity leave from June 2019. Despite rigorous attempts, the Trust had
been unable to provide short term cover in this area of national staff shortage. Whilst
the Trust committed to treating all patients referred prior to 5 April, the acceptance
of new referrals ended after this date. It was therefore considered that the best
course of action for patients was for the Health Board to make alternative arrangements
for new referrals.</p><p> </p><p>The Trust informed the health board that it would
be enacting Trust policy ensuring that specialist urological cancer surgery was prioritised
for patients within its immediate locality.</p><p> </p><p>The attached table contains
the number of patients that have been treated from English and Welsh postcode at Liverpool
Royal Hospital for urinary tract care in each of the last five years.</p><p> </p><p>The
Urinary Tract Outpatient number of patients will give the overall number of patients
from Wales receiving treatment or review.</p>
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