The Leader of the Welsh Conservatives has condemned the First Minister for his attempts to ‘side-step and dismiss’ the serious implications of a health board’s plans for the coming winter.
Without a Welsh Government winter pressures plan for Wales, Hywel Dda Health Board has published its own proposals for capacity, which include the potential for the cancellation of all non-urgent orthopaedic surgery at four general hospitals in mid and west Wales.
When questioned in the Assembly on his knowledge of the plan by Andrew RT Davies, Carwyn Jones refused to acknowledge any potential impact on patients.
Mr Davies said:
“Patients awaiting non-urgent orthopaedic surgery in mid and west Wales have been left in limbo – unsure if their appointments will be met on time and confused about the coming months.
“Carwyn Jones’s legacy of NHS cuts and his failure to fill vacancies has led to this pressure on services, yet all he can do is side-step and dismiss the very real concerns of communities in the region.
“It is clear from both the health board and UNISON that radical changes are being proposed and I am shocked and appalled that the First Minister refuses to acknowledge this.
“The UK Government produced a winter pressures plan for hospitals at the end of the summer. In Wales, Labour has refused to do the same – forcing health boards into a corner.
“I urge Mr Jones to recognise the health board’s plans, intervene, and safeguard orthopaedic surgery as soon as possible.”