James Evans MS has questioned the Welsh Government on what they are doing to tackle the poor healthcare provision across rural Wales.
Leading a short debate in the Senedd, James highlighted the erosion of services seen over the past few years and now the most recent cuts to the opening hours of Brecon and Llandrindod Wells War Memorial Hospital’s Minor Injury Units and the downgrading of hospital wards Cuts are felt elsewhere with neighbouring Aneurin Bevan Health Board announcing significant reduction in bed capacity at Nevill Hall Hospital, a decision that will no doubt put even more pressure on an already stretched Grange Hospital.
James also called for the Welsh Labour Government to adopt a more co-ordinated approach between Wales’ seven health boards to ensure patients waiting for an appointment or other treatment can be seen in Wales’ various other health boards.
James Evans MS said:
“Although we’ve had some success with improvements in stroke rehabilitation services and the new mobile dental unit currently based at Hay-on-Wye, we have sadly seen an erosion of front-line services, whether that be our MIUs, the closure of Crug Ward for dementia patients, Knighton Hospital being downgraded to a smaller respite unit, and now the loss of more than 15 beds at Nevill Hall Hospital in neighbouring Abergavenny. These are devastating blows to the people of Mid-Wales as we head into the harshest winter months.
“Non-acute care coverage across mid Wales can be a postcode lottery. It’s wrong that an 80-year-old resident in Abercrave has to travel to Telford for an ophthalmology macular appointment because bureaucracy stops them from being seen 15 minutes down the road in Swansea! It’s about time Welsh Labour got a grip of our NHS and take a more collaborative and co-ordinated approach between our seven health boards and ensure patients can be seen efficiently and effectively.
“Dementia care requires immediate attention. Only 40% of those with dementia in Powys have a formal diagnosis! This is shocking.
“The role that GPs have in providing our healthcare cannot be under-estimated. GPs are the backbone of our NHS, yet many tell me they feel like they are battling health boards at every turn, feeling that their innovative project ideas are stymied by them. The Welsh Government must strengthen the roles of GPs in providing quality healthcare service across Wales and listen to their suggestions, their ideas on how best to make improvements.”
“The NHS is not a sacred cow and should not be immune from change.”
