AM CALLS FOR WELSH GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION ON ROYAL GLAMORGAN A&E

Assembly Member for Pontypridd Mick Antoniw, whose constituency is home to the Royal Glamorgan hospital, has called on the Welsh Government to urgently intervene to prevent  down-grading or removal of A&E services at the Royal Glamorgan hospital.

In a question to Health Minister Vaughan Gething, Mick Antoniw said:

“During the South Wales programme I and other Assembly Members and Members of Parliament campaigned together to  successfully  retain accident and emergency provision in the Royal Glamorgan Hospital.  Six years on I again share the wide-spread public concern about these new proposals to consider a number of  options including the  possibility of  downgrading  or removal of A&E services.   Short-term modifications to health service delivery  to keep patients safe can of course be  necessary and right, but I believe that it is vital that the Royal Glamorgan continues to offer a robust A&E service into the future.

“Whilst it is important to note that this review is driven by clinicians and is not about saving money, it is six years since the Welsh Government introduced the South Wales Programme, which is the starting point for the Health Board’s proposed review.  A great deal has changed since then and there are now a number of complex factors in play, which need to be fully understood, including the challenge of recruiting consultants, the increased demand on blue-light services and substantially increased demand on A&E.

“Will the Minister urgently intervene in this issue and commit to supporting a full review of the South Wales Programme before any changes to A and E provision at the Royal Glamorgan are considered?