BRAIN surgery for patients in South and Mid Wales will be centralised in Cardiff, it was announced today.

A long-awaited report on NHS neurosurgery said all emergency and intra-cranial work would be carried out at the capital's University Hospital of Wales (UHW).

Non-complex spinal surgery, outpatient and day-case neurosurgery will continue at the UHW and Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

The decision is meant to end a long-running and often bitter row about Wales's neuroscience service as it comes under mounting pressure, including from problems in recruiting specialist doctors.

The NHS said it was no longer able to provide patients with the safest and best service possible in Swansea.

Spinal surgery capacity will be expanded at Morriston to improve access for people in Mid and West Wales.

A second report into North Wales said patients will continue travelling to the Walton Centre in Liverpool, but will get more neurological care, support and rehabilitation at local hospitals in Wales.

Complex and emergency neurosurgery was transferred from Swansea to Cardiff in July because of a shortage of doctors - an arrangement made permanent by today's report.

The Assembly Government said the blueprint had been backed by clinicians in the field and would mean a "safe, sustainable’’ service for patients.

NHS Wales chief executive Paul Williams said: "The aim of the review and the follow-up implementation reports was to look at the current provision of neuroscience services, including spinal and stroke services, and to build on the current services available and to deliver future services which are robust, safe, sustainable and high-quality.’’ He added: "Wales, like the rest of the UK, has had difficulty in recruiting middle-grade doctors, particularly in specialist fields, such as neurosciences, where there are relatively few doctors available.

"This has had an impact on complying with requirements to trained specialists of the future.’’ Dr Alan Axford, who chaired the South Wales review, said: "I am confident that the recommendations in our report represent the best way forward to strengthen and improve neurosciences in the region.

"Developing the service in this way will offer many benefits to a large number of patients, improving safety, patient outcome and ensuring we have a sustainable service in the future.’’ He was thanked by Health Minister Edwina Hart, as was Elwyn Price-Morris who led the North Wales review.

Mrs Hart said: "I have now sent the reports to the chairs of the health boards in Wales to implement the recommendations for the benefit of patients and staff.’’ But opposition politicians attacked her for failing to protect the service at Morriston.

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Peter Black said: "The Health Minister now must answer questions on the impact of the Neurosciences Implementation Report on Morriston Hospital and the future of the trauma centre currently being developed there.’’ Tory AM Alun Cairns said: "We have always recognised that a two-centre operative option for neurosurgery in South Wales was not viable.

"The debate has always been about whether that should be in Swansea or Cardiff.

"The minister has denied us that debate and even ignored her own expert advisers.’’