Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) is delighted to announce it has attracted two consultants to join the team at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest.

The appointments bolster the hospital's medical workforce position and cement ongoing work to ensure medical and nursing professionals view Withybush Hospital as a great place to work and progress their careers.

Dr. Angela Puffett is appointed as consultant physician (care of the elderly), starting in August, and Dr. Will Backen has been appointed into the new position of consultant in orthogeriatrics (the first post of its kind in the Hywel Dda area), starting in October.

Interim medical director, Dr. Philip Kloer, said: "This is fantastic news for our patients in Pembrokeshire as we have attracted two high calibre doctors to the Withybush Hospital team. This should also create a ripple effect, demonstrating confidence in the hospital's future and positively influencing recruitment into other vacant positions, such as middle and junior grades."

Dr. Puffett graduated from the University of Bristol Medical School in 2005 and has worked in a number of centres in south-west England, before completing her speciality training in Wales, most recently working within stroke services in Cardiff.

She said: "Having been born and brought up in Pembrokeshire, I am looking forward to being part of the team building a positive future for Withybush Hospital."

The general medicine role is principally for patients of all ages, but with an additional focus on improving and developing services for older people in Pembrokeshire.

Dr. Puffett said: "Our plans involve rapid access to multidisciplinary assessment for older people who need speedy diagnostic and support services, but not necessarily admission to hospital. Alongside this we will be improving access to comprehensive geriatric assessment for inpatients - an evidence based, person centred intervention which improves outcomes for older people."

Dr Puffett will bring her experience in using new technology, such as teleconferencing to strengthen links with the tertiary centre.

"I am also looking forward to building on Withybush Hospital's excellent pass rates for junior doctors in membership of the Royal College of Physicians exams, and I bring experience of having organised the exam in Plymouth," she said.

Dr. Backen qualified from the University of Southampton in 2002 and undertook specialty training in both geriatric and general internal medicine in the South of England. He was appointed to a consultant post at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust in 2013 before moving to Withybush Hospital in 2015.

He said: "My clinical interests extend beyond orthogeriatrics to include the assessment and management of falls, osteoporosis, rehabilitation and peri-operative medicine. I also have a significant interest in medical education, having gained my Post Graduate Diploma in Medical Education from the University of Winchester in 2014. I have previously held the post of medical education fellow with Health Education Wessex. My particular areas of educational interest include educational and clinical supervision."

Hywel Dda UHB is increasing the number of substantive medical consultants at Withybush Hospital, from eight to 11, or possibly more, to improve patient care and the attractiveness of medical posts at the hospital.

It is also putting an 'in-house' training package together to attract service doctors to the hospital.