Local AMs takes doctors to meet the Health Minister

1.35.39pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 20th Feb 2007

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, and Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Montgomeryshire, Mick Bates, have taken a delegation of local GP's to meet Assembly Health Minister Brian Gibbons.

Kirsty Williams AM and Mick Bates AM with Powys GPs

The GP's, from the Powys communities threatened with the closure of their local hospitals under the Local Health Board' reorganisation plans, met with the Minister yesterday to discuss their concerns.

Ms Williams said: "I was delighted that I was able to arrange this meeting for the GP's, so that they could discuss the issues face-to-face with the Minister. I think it was a productive meeting, and I am confident that we left the Minister in no doubt that the Assembly Government must consider how the problem of healthcare delivery in rural areas will be tackled in the future."

Mick Bates said: "While there were, of course, some differences of opinion around the table, there was also a general agreement that there must be better engagement with local people and clinicians over any plans to change our primary care services. I hope that we can all go forward from this meeting and continue to work together to find a way of maintaining healthcare facilities in our rural communities."