Local AM takes hospital campaign to Assembly

4.22.20pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 4th Oct 2006

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, has raised her constituents' concerns about hospital closures in Powys during a debate at the Assembly this week.

Kirsty with local campaigners outside Powys LHB Meeting

During her speech, she expressed her deep dissatisfaction with the way the Local Health Board has been handling the issue, and introduced an amendment to the debate which stressed the importance of local communities' views being taken on board during any consultation on hospital reconfiguration.

Ms Williams said: "The Health Board's announcement of the effective closure of inpatient services at Bronllys, Knighton and Builth Wells hospitals has come as a huge blow to these communities. No options or preferred models were proposed; it was their way or the highway.

"This complete lack of consultation is just not acceptable. Under the current system local people's voices are either met with condescension or simply ignored. It is an issue that must be addressed, before financial considerations result in a complete erosion of our health service."

Notes:

Ms Williams was speaking during a debate on hospital services at the Assembly on Tuesday; a full transcript of this, and all other, Assembly debates is available at the National Assembly for Wales website (www.wales.gov.uk).

During this debate, the Assembly passed the motion, as amended by Ms Williams. The amended motion reads: "The National Assembly: 1. believes that no reconfiguration of hospital services should take place without adequately planned community provision; and 2. believes that before any reconfiguration occurs there must be genuine public consultation with the views of local communities not only listened to but taken on board."

Ms Williams has been campaigning hard on the issue of health services for local people, including organising a protest outside the Local Health Board meeting on the day that the hospital closures were announced.