Plaid Cymru Statement on Prince Philip Hospital

Plaid Cymru in Llanelli has reacted angrily to today’s announcement regarding future health care provision at Prince Philip Hospital especially regarding the Accident and Emergency Unit.

Rhydwyn Ifan, Plaid Llanelli Constituency Secretary said:

“The decision to make the A+E unit in Prince Philip Hospital a nurse-led local accident centre will be of great concern to people living within Llanelli. Such a unit that will not be consultant and doctor led is wholly unacceptable. It could prove to be a very dangerous move. The claim that the majority of respondents to the Hywel Dda consultation document accept Option B does not stand up to scrutiny. It is clearly not the best option for us here in Llanelli and it is not what the people of this town want. The most populous area of the county will not be best served by these changes. Plaid Cymru believes that the people of Llanelli want to see a safer NHS within close proximity to their homes with a focus on patient care. When Plaid were in coalition in the Senedd the status of Prince Philip Hospital was assured. We would do so again”.

Sean Rees, Plaid Llanelli Communications Officer added:

“The whole process of this consultation has been a farce. These changes being implemented are nothing but a cost cutting exercise that will leave our communities even further disadvantaged. It is a disgrace that the combined petition presented by Plaid Cymru Llanelli and SOSPPAN that had a total of 33,000 signatories is being ignored. These changes will ultimately lead to an increased risk for patients. Every Health Board in Wales is accountable to the Welsh Labour Government and therefore we call on its Health Minister Lesley Griffiths to intervene and reverse this dreadful decision. The people of Llanelli need a fully-fledged A+E unit led by the service of consultants and doctors”.