Clwyd West MP, David Jones, has expressed severe concern at the proposals for Colwyn Bay and Ruthin Community Hospitals contained in the plan published last week by Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board.
Under the plans, both Ruthin and Colwyn Bay hospitals will lose their Minor Injuries Units and will be subject to further rationalisation.
David Jones said:
“There has been great concern in both Colwyn Bay and Ruthin for some years over the long-term plans of the Board for these hospitals.
“Both hospitals saw temporary closures over the last winter and it was widely suspected that these were precursors to the full-scale closure of facilities. It would appear that this fear has borne out.
“Colwyn Bay is the second biggest town in North Wales, and when I visited the Minor Injuries Unit last winter, I could see that it was very busy, with a significant demand for the services it provides.
“It is completely unacceptable for the Board to consider closing the Minor Injuries Unit at Colwyn Bay and I have every intention of objecting as loudly as possible as I can to the proposal.
“Similarly, Ruthin is an important community hospital with a Minor Injuries Unit that provides other services, such as phlebotomy. It is also proposed to close down the x-ray services at Ruthin, which will be seen by many local residents as another blow to its long term viability.
“Again, I shall be objecting most strongly to the Board’s proposals for Ruthin.
“I fully understand that the Board has financial challenges. These, however, are issues that should be addressed by the Welsh Government, which itself has the benefit of a budget that has been protected by the Westminster Government under the terms of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
“Health care is a matter of prime importance to people in North Wales and the Welsh Government should be taking urgent action to ensure that proper funding is given for the vital services upon which communities depend. “
