Health Minister dragging feet on vital Guidance

4.47.11pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 9th Feb 2007

Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, has expressed her concern that Assembly guidance to Local Health Boards, expected at the beginning of the year, has still not been published.

Local Health Boards have put reorganisation plans on hold in anticipation of the new guidance on NHS Community Services, the publication of which has been repeatedly delayed.

Ms Williams said: "In my constituency, people do not want hospitals to close. Just as bad, however, is this anxious wait we are all facing to find out exactly what is going to happen to our local health services. At the beginning of January, we were told to expect the guidance to be published within a fortnight. That is still what they are saying today. This situation is completely unacceptable - I cannot think of a good reason why this has taken so long. The Health Minister must take responsibility and ensure that this guidance is published as swiftly as possible so that LHB's, and communities across Wales, know where they stand."

Notes:

· On January 10th, the office of Ann Lloyd, the Chief Executive of the NHS in Wales, said that the final draft of the guidelines was being looked at, and they hoped to publish within 10 days. Today, when Ms Williams made enquiries, she was told the guidance may be out within the next 10 days/ 2 weeks.

· Ms Williams raised the issue with Rhodri Morgan during Questions to the First Minster on Tuesday - he was unable to say when the guidance would be published.

· Powys LHB announced plans last year to close four hospitals in the county, but their consultation was put on hold following the announcement that new Assembly guidance was to be published.