Prince Charles Hospital review, protect services say Plaid AMs
October 18, 2007
Warnings not to downgrade services have followed the announcement of a review of the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr.The Health Minister Edwina Hart has announced that Professor Mansel Aylward will conduct a review of services at the hospital. She has now also dissolved the Pontypridd and Rhondda NHS Trust, and North Glamorgan NHS Trust, and confirmed the establishment of a single NHS Trust merging the two bodies. A Shadow Board is due to be in place by December 2007, with full implementation of the Trust merger by the 1st April 2008.
Plaid Assembly Member Leanne Wood has noted the Minister’s review but warned that services for people at the Heads of the Valley must not be downgraded. She commented:
“I have said many times that I will oppose any proposals which would cut the quality of services to people living in the Heads of the Valleys. There are aspects of the announcement, such as investment into community services that we welcome. But I will not agree to any changes that would result in centralised services away from our most deprived communities.
“The One Wales government has accepted the Plaid demand to halt the plans to close and downgrade services. I have had concerns that this trust merger was part of that plan. I will be writing to the Minister to seek assurances that this review will aim to improve our health services.”
Plaid AM Chris Franks added: “I have welcomed the emphasis on community and primary services in this plan, but I do have concerns that patients and staff at Valleys hospitals have been and felt left out of the loop when it comes to this reconfiguration. Plaid has fought hard to protect local health services. The previous government planned to remove 24 hour emergency surgery and consultant-led obstetric delivery service. I am glad that Plaid has managed to halt those plans.”
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Note - click here for the National Assembly website’s full Record of Proceedings including a Statement made by the Health Minister on NHS changes.
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