Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, has welcomed the publication of the final Terms of Reference for an independent study of healthcare services in Mid Wales.
The Welsh Government has commissioned the Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care (WIHSC) to carry out an independent study of the issues and opportunities for the future provision of health services, which are best suited to the specific needs of people living in Mid Wales.
Mr George wrote to the Minister for Health and Social Care, Prof Mark Drakeford AM, after the initial Terms of Reference were published for consultation in January because he was concerned that the examination of cross-border health services was not robust enough and that there was no specific focus on mental health service provision, both of which have come under considerable fire from local GPs in Montgomeryshire.
Commenting, Mr George said:
“I welcome these final Terms of Reference for the healthcare study and I’m pleased that the Minister and academics at WIHSC have listened to issues raised during the consultation process.
“Powys is among the most sparsely populated areas of the UK, which presents distinctive and very much unique challenges to health service delivery.
“Having discussed the objectives of the study with GPs and health professionals across Montgomeryshire, our principle concerns of the original Terms of Reference were that cross-border healthcare provision didn’t seem to be given the due attention that it deserves and that there was no mention of mental health services at all.
“There is a different model for delivering health services in this region than in other parts of Wales and while of course many residents relying on the health services provided by Welsh health boards – like Bronglais within Hywel Dda, the vast majority of the population focused around Newtown and Welshpool, rely heavily on the services provided by the two English NHS trusts – and unless we have our own District General Hospital that is not going to change.
“Healthcare in mid Wales must be improved – but not at the expense of cross border healthcare.
“While partnership working between the NHS in Wales and England must be robustly examined, access to healthcare in England must not be jeopardised by this review.
“Successful collaboration between health boards is crucial for patients in this region and access to treatment away from home should not be compromised.”
