James Evans MS seeks assurance over elective surgery access in England for Powys residents

Tindle News

James Evans has sought an assurance from the Welsh Government that people from Powys who need elective surgery in England can get it. Video from Senedd.tv

Transcript

00:00that short term while they're recruiting.

00:01James Evans.

00:02DR Cloweth.

00:03First Minister, as you're well aware, Powys Teaching Health Board did have proposals to

00:08stop elective surgery and slow down elective surgery across the border in England.

00:13I'm very pleased, as well as others in this Chamber, that that proposal was shelved by

00:17the health board.

00:18However, that health board does remain in special measures due to financial difficulties,

00:23so the problems haven't gone away, and there's still some anxiety within the communities

00:27within my constituency, and I know in Russell George's constituencies as well, that this

00:31proposal might come round again.

00:33So I'm just interested to hear from you what discussions is the Cabinet Secretary and yourself

00:38having with Powys Teaching Health Board to make sure that there is money available to

00:42make sure that people who are accessing care in England can get that care when they need

00:46it and not forced away unnecessarily on waiting lists?

00:49Well, thanks very much.

00:50We're very pleased that the health board decided not to go through with those proposals, and

00:56I know that there are ongoing discussions between the health Secretary and Powys Health

01:02Board to make sure that they are able to not only deliver for the people of Powys, but

01:08also to deliver within the budget constraints that we've set out.

01:12We have bailed out health boards year after year.

01:16That time is finished.

01:18They need to manage their finances much better, because otherwise every other department has

01:25to bail them out.

01:26Enough.

01:27That's not happening any longer, and it's really important that Powys takes that seriously.

01:32They're having to make very difficult decisions.

01:33We understand that.

01:35The demands on the health service at the moment are really enormous, but I was very pleased

01:41to see that they pulled back from that suggestion that they were going to follow.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended