âInexplicableâ that Health Minister refers to scrutiny on Welsh Government poor performance on health as âharping onâ
Plaid Cymru has renewed calls for a public inquiry to look âtransparently and forensicallyâ into scandal-hit Betsi Cadwaladr â Walesâ largest health board.
For the second time, the Health Minister has sidestepped the call for such an inquiry.
In Plenary today, Plaid Cymruâs health spokesperson, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, asked whether there will ever reach a point where âenough is enoughâ and re-organisation of the health boards structure is something the Health Minister would consider.
In response, the Health Minister described the scrutiny as âharping onâ and deflected to fact that âin England, where despite the fact that they have 21 hospitals in special measures equivalent⌠never, as far as I can tell, has there been a question on the floor of the house in the House of Commons on any one of those.â
Plaid Cymru spokesperson for health and care, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said:
âPlaid Cymruâs position is clear â we need a fresh start in Betsi Cadwaladr. We know the brilliant care provided by staff, but we also know â through waiting times figures, complaints processes, patient concerns, staff exasperation â that things canât go on like this.
âEven in her response to me today, the Minister talked about the need to turn over a new leaf and how important it is that âthis dreadful situation is unearthedâ. But Welsh Government refuses to even consider structural change or an inquiry into whatâs gone wrong.
âWhatâs more, the Minister seemed affronted that she should be closely scrutinised, on the basis that the UK Government doesnât. But just because she clearly thinks Labour in Westminster is doing a poor job at holding the Tories to account over their poor record on health in England, doesnât mean that Plaid Cymru shouldnât be doing its job in holding Welsh Government to account over their performance here!
âIâm convinced we need to start again with health in the north, but at the very least we need an inquiry that can look transparently and forensically at what has happened in Betsi’s past, so we can make plans for its future – for the future of those staff working in it and the patients dependent on it.â
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