The Leader of the Welsh National Party, Neil McEvoy AM, has forced the Labour government to vote on an amendment that could save A&E services at Royal Glamorgan Hospital.
Over 9,000 people have already signed a petition to the Petitions Committee of the Senedd calling for the Welsh Government to intervene to protect services. Mr McEvoy sits on the Petitions Committee and has stated that he supports the campaigners in their fight to protect local services.
In the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) this Wednesday, Mr McEvoy has taken the campaign forward by adding an amendment to a debate on NHS emergency services that calls for support for:
‘a permanent and fully resourced A&E Department at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital.’
Accident & Emergency services at the Royal Glamorgan are under threat of closure by the Cwm Taf Health Board. Labour politicians have also been publicly campaigning against the proposals but Labour run the Welsh Government, where Labour AM, Vaughan Gething, is the Health Minister.
Speaking ahead of the debate, Mr McEvoy said
“It’s cards on the table time for Labour in Wales. Either they support the NHS and the hard working frontline staff or they don’t. It’s no good for Labour Assembly Members to be claiming they’re fighting these proposals while their own Labour Health Minister is sat on his backside. The public won’t be fooled by these tactics.
“The amendment I’ve put forward means Labour AMs will have to put their money where their mouth is. We will see on Wednesday which way they vote. If we have a unanimous vote for the Royal Glamorgan in the Senedd then the A&E services will be much easier to save. If Labour fail to vote to support the hospital then they must come clean about their failures on the NHS in Wales.”
Neil McEvoy AM
Leader, Welsh National Party.
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