Plaid Cymru’s Rhondda candidate at next year’s Assembly elections has raised concerns about the proposed weekend closure of a hospital’s minor injuries unit due to a shortage of junior doctors.
Sera Evans-Fear, who is a Treorci councillor, has learned of plans to close the unit at the flag-ship Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda in Llwynypia on Saturdays due to staff shortages within the Cwm Taf Local Health Board.
The hospital only opened at the beginning of the year following an 18-month delay in the project due to floor-heating problems.
Ms Evans-Fear, who works at the University of Glamorgan, said: “My party colleague and AM for South Wales Central, Leanne Wood, is arranging to meet with bosses at the Cwm Taf Local Health Board to discuss the issue.
“She has been told that urgent action was needed due to a shortage of junior doctors in A&E which is affecting major hospitals such as the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr and the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant.
“The knock-on effect of this is that the major hospitals are being prioritised at the expense of cover for the minor injuries unit at Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda on Saturdays.”
The Cwm Taf Health Board says they have now agreed to start the consultation process for a Saturday closure at the hospital with a view to making a decision quickly in the interests of ‘patient safety.’
Ms Evans-Fear added: “For a major facet of the new £36 million hospital to be limited to opening for just five days of the week is a backward step for patient care in the Rhondda, and a worrying step towards further centralisation.
“The fact that this decision is being taken very swiftly means that a proper consultation, that fully takes into consideration the views of local people, may not take place.
“The minor injury unit is a crucial part of the new hospital which was supposed to herald improved healthcare to an area that has had to make do with sub-standard facilities for too long.
“People fear that this is the start of the slow removal of the service altogether.
“Plaid Cymru party will not stand for that. We will do all we can in the Rhondda to make sure our health services are not downgraded, privatised or removed.”
