A North Wales Assembly Member has met with the Chairman of Betsi Cadwaldr Health Board to raise concerns over Ruthin Hospital.
Following an announcement this week that 15 beds would be cut from Ruthin Hospital over the winter months, Assembly Member for Clwyd West, Darren Millar, met with Michael Willaims, the Chairman of the Betsi Cadwaldr University Health Board to discuss the matter.
Darren said:
‘The plan to cut beds from Ruthin Hospital over the winter has caused a great deal of alarm and many have feared that this is the first step on a slippery slope to the hospital’s closure.
‘During our meeting the Chairman assured me that there are no plans to close Ruthin Hospital, that it is an important part of the NHS estate and it will continue to operate as a local community hospital. He explained that the reduction in bed numbers is a temporary measure and indicated that more support will be put into community teams, and that more beds will be put into other local hospitals as part of a plan to relieve pressure over the winter period.
‘I highlighted my extreme concern over the continued lack of consultation over the Health Board proposals. The Health Board must learn from their mistakes and keep the public and other stakeholders properly informed about any significant changes to local NHS services.’
