Labour’s First Minister has been asked to apologise and clarify claims he made last week that doctors supported his plans to axe neonatal services in Pembrokeshire.
Welsh Conservatives have obtained letters from a group of GPs in the county addressed to the Health Minister and Hywel Dda Health Board expressing concern that lives may be put at risk by the plans.
Last week, Carwyn Jones said in First Minister’s Questions about the Health Minister’s decision, “if the Minister is not right, all the doctors are not right either.”
However, letters obtained by the Welsh Conservatives reveal that a group of Pembrokeshire GPs are warning that the move “poses a serious threat to both life and limb for the residents of Pembrokeshire and for the many people who visit Pembrokeshire throughout the year.”
Paul Davies, Assembly Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire, has now written to the First Minister asking him to apologise for the misleading claim and to clarify his remarks.
Paul Davies AM said:
“Last week, Labour’s First Minister said that all doctors support his government’s downgrading of neonatal services at Withybush Hospital, yet these leaked letters show that some GPs have serious concerns that lives will be put at risk.
“These letters are clear evidence of medical experts opposing the Welsh Labour Government and Hywel Dda Health Board plans to remove neonatal care from Pembrokeshire.
“The First Minister does not speak for GPs and by claiming they all support his irresponsible and dangerous downgrade plans he has misled people and I urge him to apologise.
“These reckless proposals have not taken account of the geography of West Wales and lengthy journey times, capacity of neighbouring hospitals or the postcode lottery which will result and that is why these GPs and families across Pembrokeshire oppose them.”
