Welsh Conservatives have condemned the Labour Health Minister’s decision to downgrade A and E services in Llanelli and leave an axe hanging over a special care baby unit at Withybush Hospital.
Announcing the conclusions of an independent report on NHS reorganisation in the region, Labour’s Minister announced implementation of emergency department downgrading would go ahead at Prince Philip Hospital and further work would be undertaken by the panel in relation to neonatal services at Withybush and Glangwili Hospitals.
Shadow Minister for Health, Darren Millar AM, said:
“Today Labour has confirmed more hospital downgrading in Wales, despite previous assurances that this would not happen.
“As Labour’s leader talked about the NHS on a conference stage in Brighton, his party’s only health minister was announcing hospital downgrading in Wales. That’s the real life example of what truly happens to the NHS in Labour’s hands.
“As an axe continues to hang unacceptably over Withybush Hospital’s special care baby unit, families will remain worried and concerned.
“Patients should not be forced to travel further for treatment and these reforms have been driven by Labour’s record-breaking NHS budget cuts.”
Preseli Pembrokeshire Assembly Member Paul Davies said:
"It seems it’s clear that calls to save Withybush Hospital’s special care baby unit have fallen on deaf ears.
“This Labour government still appears to advocate a closure that many believe would be both dangerous and unsafe.
“There are deep concerns surrounding the potential axing of this unit – not least the effect it will have on an already strained ambulance service, the lack of suitable transport services within our communities, and the knock-on effect on other services at the hospital.
Labour’s Carwyn Jones must guarantee that these considerations will be taken into account as further work now moves forward.”
Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire AM, Angela Burns, said:
“Following many months of constant worry, there is no end in sight for communities across our region.
"The concerns of thousands are being ignored and I urge Labour ministers to stop and listen to them.
Labour’s slash and burn approach to the NHS has forced the implementation of these proposals and we will continue to fight them.”