Call for urgent care centre to be built
Calls for an urgent care centre to be built in North Powys have been made in the Welsh Assembly. Russell George, Montgomeryshire AM, said he also wants a 24-hour minor injuries unit to be based in Newtown.
He was speaking about his concerns over cross border health care and the possibility of accident and emergency services moving away from Shrewsbury.
Mr George said there are a number of challenges facing healthcare services in the region.
He said: "Over the last few weeks, while campaigning alongside my friend and colleague Glyn Davies, in Montgomeryshire, healthcare has been by far the most frequent and important policy area which has been raised by residents on the doorstep.
"There is a deep frustration that access to healthcare is moving further away from communities in Montgomeryshire as services are centralised in more populated areas, meaning that people have to travel huge distances."
Keep up with all the Shropshire and Mid Wales election news at www.shropshirestar.com/election
"I believe in the common sense approach that NHS services should be delivered closer to home to give patients the confidence that the NHS will be there for them in their time of need – this is why I have consistently called for an urgent care centre in Montgomeryshire to be established and also support calls for a 24 hour Minor Injuries Unit in Newtown."
Referring to the current review of the delivery of healthcare services in Shropshire, which will affect many Montgomeryshire residents, he added: "My long held view is that Powys teaching Health Board need to react quickly to the changes which are occurring in Shropshire and provide an urgent care centre which serves the people of Mid Wales, either in one of Montgomeryshire's largest towns and if appropriate, look at developing a new site.
"As the debate in Shropshire is now under way, it's time that these options are now given serious consideration, so that the people of Montgomeryshire are not disadvantaged."
Mr George also praised the cross party consensus and Welsh Government engagement on Mid Wales health issues following a recent conference to discuss the Mid Wales Health Study but criticised the way in which some political parties have used the NHS as a political football during the current general election campaign.
He said: "My style is not normally to be partisan but, in this general election campaign, one political party has tried to hoodwink constituents into believing falsehoods that healthcare is the responsibility of a Westminster government rather than the Welsh Labour Government.
Mark Drakeford AM, the Minister for Health and Social Services, acknowledged the difficulties in providing healthcare in Mid Wales and said he will meet health campaigners in the region to discuss challenges.
Follow the election campaign six days a week in the Shropshire Star newspaper, round the clock on at shropshirestar.com/election where we will carry breaking news and by signing up to our email newsletter.
