Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, has confronted the First Minister about the current service reorganisation by Hywel Dda Local Health Board and questioned whether the Government should be looking at a new plan for “a health service for Mid Wales in Mid Wales.”
During this week’s (28th February) First Minister’s Question Time, Mr George raised public concerns regarding the Health Board’s reluctance to engage properly at public meetings, as well as re-emphasising the fact that no stakeholder listening exercises were taking place at all in north Powys.
Responding to the question, Mr. Jones said that there was too much “scaremongering” in relation to the future of Bronglais. He said that the people of Mid Wales needed “safe and acceptable” health services and the fact that the Government was investing £32m in the redevelopment of Bronglais proved that no downgrade of services was going to take place.
Commenting, Mr George said:
“While I appreciate again, the First Minister’s commitment that Bronglais and there services at the hospital will not be downgraded, there still seems to be a lack of communication between the Welsh Government and the Health Board.
“If the First Minister and the Health Minister are saying that services are not going to be removed from Bronglais, then why is the Health Board still consulting on proposals that will do just that?
“In the public meeting that I attended in Aberystwyth, over 500 people voted unanimously for two motions – to reject the plans put forward by Hywel Dda and for the Health Minister to authorise the preparation of a new plan for a health service for Mid Wales in Mid Wales.
“These people were not scaremongering and I think the First Minister must listen to the people of Mid Wales and finally deliver excellent services that they expect and deserve.”
