Health Board Plans Withdrawn but Challenges Remain
From Presteigne to Llandrindod Wells, healthcare provision in Mid Wales remains a significant concern for all of us.
I was extremely relieved by the decision this month from Powys Teaching Health Board to abandon their plans to extend the treatment time of Welsh patients attending hospitals in Shropshire and Herefordshire. These plans were never appropriate and would have placed patient welfare at risk.
I am grateful for all the constituents who worked with me to help make the case to the Health Board, Welsh Government and media that the plans should be axed and am proud of the community-led campaign we ran which only goes to show that you can achieve change when enough of you join together.
However, the challenges of providing healthcare in rural constituencies still remain and the Welsh Labour Government is still forcing Powys Health Board to make £23 million in cuts this year. I will continue to use my voice to advocate on your behalf for fair funding and better support for our healthcare services.
Another key cross-border issue I have raised in Parliament this month is the ongoing difficulties caused by the lack of joined-up IT systems between the NHS in Wales and England. This problem is impacting cross-border healthcare delivery and, in some cases, patient safety. I am pressing both governments to prioritize the development of an integrated IT system.
Finally, access to stroke services is another critical issue within the constituency. I have written to Health Secretary Jeremy Miles to express my deep concerns over proposed changes to stroke units at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil. I am also concerned about plans to cut the stroke unit at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth which could impact local residents in the far West of our constituency.
These changes risk increasing travel times and placing additional pressure on ambulance services, potentially jeopardizing outcomes for stroke patients. Maintaining these services is essential and we know that quick access to treatment is crucial when it comes to strokes.
I will continue to work relentlessly alongside my Welsh Liberal Democrat Senedd colleague Jane Dodds MS to address these issues and fight for better healthcare across the constituency.
Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe MP David Chadwick.
