Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, has called the on-going process to modernise local health services in the Mid and West Wales region a ‘debacle’ and has asked the Welsh Health Minister to personally intervene in the debate.
The comments were made by Mr George, after a letter which was signed by 50 out of 60 senior medical staff at Bronglais Hospital, declared that they no longer had confidence in Hywel Dda Health Board’s proposals for delivering local services in the future.
The letter, signed by a majority of consultants and specialists, stated that they did not believe the board was committed to delivering services locally and that its plans are contrary to those agreed with medical staff.
Commenting, Mr George said:
“This letter from senior consultants is a real cause for concern.
“I have raised the issue of service downgrade at Bronglais with both the First Minister and the Health Minister and both have said categorically told me that services will not be downgraded.
“Yet, the Health Board has put forward an option to downgrade a range of services. So you can understand why 50 out of the 60 senior medical staff at the hospital have said they do not believe the board is committed to delivering services locally.
“What we need now is clarity and I believe the Health Minister must intervene as a matter of urgency and resolve the issue not just for the members of staff but for the people of Mid Wales who rely on the vital services that the hospital provides.”
