AM slams bid to relocate hospital unit (From Western Telegraph)

AM slams bid to relocate hospital unit

Local AM Richard Edwards has said plans to move childrens neurological services from Swansea to Cardiff could have serious implications for local children.

Two local mothers of children with hydrocephalus voiced their fears over the plans recently, and Dr Richard Edwards, Labour AM for Preseli Pembrokeshire, backed up their concerns last week.

He said: Pembrokeshire is already the most peripheral part of South Wales and if the unit is relocated to Cardiff it would make it even more so. It would make this vital service difficult to access for families living in rural areas and the nature of neurosurgery means that time is a crucial factor. There has to be serious concerns over the findings of this report.

The Specialised Health Service Commission For Wales (SHSCW) report controversially recommends the services be moved to the new childrens hospital on the site of the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.

But Dr Edwards has called the report flawed and argues that Morristons position meant it was the ideal site to be upgraded.

He said: This is not selfish; this is not anti-Cardiff; this is simply a strong case. Morriston is roughly equidistant between Newport and Pembrokeshire; if one site is going to be upgraded, it should be Morriston. It currently provides excellent standards of specialist care to children with life-threatening head and brain injuries throughout West Wales.

Due to huge public protests against the findings of the report, a public consultation on the issue has been called.

Dr Edwards urged Pembrokeshire people to voice their opposition to the plans by writing to the Dyfed Powys Health Authority by September 30th at the following address: PO Box 13, St Davids Hospital, Carmarthen.