North Wales Transport Cannot Support NHS Changes - Burnham

4.00.00pm GMT Wed 15th Nov 2006

Eleanor Burnham AM expressed the frustrations of her constituents in this weeks debate on NHS reconfiguration with the government's continuing push ahead with unit closure and relocation despite poor transport links putting patients at risk.

Following plans outlined in the government's Designed for North Wales document, units including those dealing with the elderly, young children and babies are in risk of closure as services are shuffled between three major hospital sites across the region.

The result of these changes is that patients may have to travel up to one hour by car or public transport links to receive treatment. Ms Burnham made her point using the most recent example of the neo-natal unit at Wrexham Maelor hospital, which could close subject to upcoming consultation.

Ms Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales, said: "There is no doubt that the current method of re-shuffling NHS services will leave patients in North Wales having to travel long distances for treatment.

"When these journeys involve sick babies, elderly patients and those receiving ongoing treatment in particular, the problems with the plans are obvious.

"It is utterly unacceptable to expect patients to travel for an hour or more to get to their hospitals for treatment or for visitors who want to see the particularly vulnerable, such as children or babies.

"On Monday I attended a meeting between the patient group Cherish, who represent the parents of babies undergoing neo-natal treatment at Wrexham Maelor hospital, and NHS staff. The consensus there was that if the unit were to close, parents would have to travel all the way to Glan Clwyd to be with their children. Considering the serious nature of some of their cases, this is grossly inconsiderate.

"I want to see the government lead regional configuration on the basis of geographical, as well as financial considerations. People in North Wales deserve an improved NHS hospital service, and I support any attempt to secure that. What is unacceptable is expecting them to travel miles and miles to receive it."

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