Campaign launched with focus on health (From Western Telegraph)

Campaign launched with focus on health

PARLIAMENTARY candidates Dewi Smith and Councillor John Allen launched their election campaigns on Monday at Withybush Hospital, featuring the Welsh Liberal Democrat manifesto on health.

Putting Patients First is the principle behind the proposals, with the Lib Dems calling for urgent action on reducing long waiting times, introducing measures that would make hospitals safe from superbug infections and addressing the shortage of patient beds by tackling delayed transfers.

Dewi Smith is the candidate in the Preseli constituency and has recently led a high profile campaign urging caution on the LNG developments at Milford Haven until a full assessment of shipping risks has been conducted.

Councillor Allen is a Pembrokeshire county councillor and candidate for the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire constituency.

"Local people are telling Dewi and I that they are losing confidence in the Government's administration of the NHS," he said.

Cllr Bill Philpin recently had first-hand experience as a patient in Withybush and was full of praise for the nursing and medical staff, but was alarmed at the daily bureaucracy they faced having to meet Government targets and form-filling.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have set out a fully-costed programme for the NHS in Wales to reduce waiting times to those in England.