AM lost for words at lack of speech therapy

1.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 3rd Dec 2007

A chronic shortage of speech therapists in Powys is preventing frail stroke patients from moving from Swansea to be nearer their friends and families, Kirsty Williams AM has learned.

"It is unacceptable that stroke patients have been left stranded in Swansea Hospitals due to a lack of Speech Therapists in Powys" said Kirsty Williams AM for Brecon & Radnorshire; "This problem has existed for over a year and it is time action is taken to give Powys patients local access to this vital service."

"I am concerned that the lack of a speech therapy service in Ystradgynlais could also be causing unnecessary bed blocking in the Hospitals in Swansea."

Widespread community concern has been raised after a number of stroke patients from the Ystradgynlais area, having received initial stroke care in Swansea, have been unable to transfer back to Ystradgynlais Community Hospital due to its lack of speech therapy provision.

"A year ago I wrote to Powys LHB after a visit to the outstanding community hospital in Ystradgynlais revealed that this service was lacking. I was told then that the LHB was 'trying without success' to fill a therapist's post covering the area and as a result of the failure would be revaluating how best to deliver this service.

"A year later the lack of service has again been brought to my attention.

"It is very worrying that a year on this problem appears to have not been resolved, causing both patients and relatives immense distress. These predominantly elderly patients want to be treated in their community by staff who know them and their needs. Their elderly relatives, who live in an area with poor public transport, need easy access to visit their loved ones."

"This situation begs the question as to whether it would not be more cost effective for the LHB to bring patients back into Powys rather than paying the high cost for out-of-county commissioning.

"I have written again to Powys LHB asking to know how and when they will be addressing this situation and whether the problem could at least initially be resolved by a part-time provision of this service."