Jane Dodds Calls on First Minister to Intervene Over Powys Health Care Crisis

Welsh Liberal Democrat Senedd Member for Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd Jane Dodds has called on the new Plaid Cymru First Minister to directly intervene in Powys’ ongoing healthcare crisis.

Powys is now facing two simultaneous healthcare crises, with waiting times for treatment in England being artificially lengthened for Powys patients only to save money and news breaking last week that community hospitals in Ystradgynlais, Builth Wells, Knighton, Bronllys, Welshpool, Llanidloes, Machynlleth and Llandrindod Wells could all see beds removed, a move the Lib Dems have described as ‘closure by stealth’.

During First Minister’s questions this week, Jane Dodds called on the First Minister to directly intervene in both the cross-border treatment delays and the potential hospital cuts, stating that Powys residents feel unfairly treated.

Powys Lib Dems have already started a petition against the hospital cuts that has already attracted over 2,000 signatures in less than a week and can be signed here: https://www.libdems.wales/saveourhospitals

The Lib Dems have also stated that the Welsh Government cannot continue to hide behind unelected officials in the Health Board and that, whilst they don’t agree with the decisions being made by the Health Board, it is important to realise those decisions are being driven by funding decisions made by the Welsh Government in Cardiff Bay.

They have also called on Plaid Cymru to honour their pre-election commitment to introduce a rural premium for public services in areas like Powys that recognises the additional costs of providing healthcare over dispersed rural communities.

Commenting after the exchange, Welsh Liberal Democrat Senedd Member for Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd Jane Dodds said:

 “People in Powys are fed up of being forgotten and treated as an afterthought when it comes to public services, watching services chipped away bit by bit over several years.

“Removing hospital beds across our county would be a frightening step in the wrong direction. With a massive social care crisis ongoing, we simply cannot afford to cut beds in our communities; it will only lead to larger hospitals being blocked up and pain and difficulties for patients having to be treated far away from home and their friends and families.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats will be fighting these proposals every step of the way, and I will continue to urge the new Plaid Cymru Welsh Government to stick to its election promises and to not to follow the same path as the previous Welsh Labour Government and to stop hiding behind health board officials and act to save our vital community hospitals.”

ENDS
The petition can be signed here: https://www.libdems.wales/saveourhospitals

The full exchange can be watched here: http://www.senedd.tv/Meeting/Clip/768916e7-9a3b-4c63-a2ff-a278ae051043?inPoint=00:00:00&outPoint=05:40:46