Leighton Andrews

Rhondda Labour campaign to re-open Minor Injuries Unit

At this evening’s Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council meeting, Rhondda Labour Councillors will be supporting the campaign for the Minor Injuries Unit to be re-opened. Dr Chris Jones is due to speak at the Council meeting and Rhondda Labour Councillors will be questioning him about this issue. The Rhondda Labour Party has also prepared the following leaflet:

• Download Rhondda Labour MIU Leaflet - side 1 - A4
• Download Rhondda Labour MIU Leaflet - side 2 - A4
• Download Rhondda Labour MIU Leaflet - side 1 - A5
• Download Rhondda Labour MIU Leaflet - side 2 - A5

Letter to Cwm Taf Health Board RE: Minor Injuries Unit

As promised, I wrote to Dr Chris Jones, Chair of Cwm Taf Health Board, to express my concerns about the temporary closure of the Minor Injuries Unit at Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda. The full text of my letter can be seen below:

         

25 October 2011

 

Dear Chris,

There is unquestionable anger about the run-down of services at Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda, including both the Minor Injuries Unit and the Out of Hours service.

It is now clear that the step by step cuts in service at the MIU over the last year were the precursor to the temporary closure. Questions are being asked about the commitment of the LHB to reinstating the MIU.

While I understand the need to protect the A & E at Royal Glamorgan, and certainly I do not want my constituents to be forced to travel to Merthyr for Accident or Emergency support, the MIU was key to the new hospital in Llwynypia.

People find it hard to understand how the LHB has failed to plan for the staffing challenges it now faces.

I have asked a number of questions of the LHB over the last week, and not all the information I have requested has been supplied. I would be grateful for the data on the numbers attending the MIU and the number of Rhondda residents using A & E at RGH as soon as possible.

I know how important this facility is to local people and I want an assurance that this is only a temporary measure.  I would also like clarification from the Health Board as to when you plan to re-open the Unit, and the rationale behind what has happened to Out of Hours.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Leighton Andrews AM

Assembly Member for the Rhondda

 

Rhondda Minor Injuries Unit - sign the petition!

On Friday, members of the Rhondda Labour Party unanimously decided to campaign for the re-opening of the Minor Injuries Unit in Llwynypia. At the party's All-Member meeting, attended by 60 people, members demonstrated their commitment to uniting with hospital trades unions in defence of the MIU.

We have created a petition that you can download and print out – feel free to circulate copies across your communities and then drop them back to the constituency office, or post them to the Freepost address at the bottom of the petition.

Since hearing about the temporary closure, I have been very concerned about the impact on local people. Many constituents have been in touch with me over the past few days and I am raising a number of questions with the Local Health Board (LHB).

The LHB says that the closure is a temporary measure, due to acute staffing constraints at the Accident and Emergency (A & E) Department in the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, and the need to cover these with support from the Emergency Nurse Practitioners from Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda. They have also stated that they are trying to resolve the staffing challenges that have precipitated this action. 

I have discussed the issues facing A&E and the MIU with the Local Health Board during recent meetings. I know how important this facility is to local people and I am determined that this closure should not become permanent.

Along with Rhondda MP Chris Bryant, I will be making every effort to resolve this issue and preserve the Minor Injuries Unit well into the future. I will continue to make representations to the LHB on behalf of constituents and will keep you updated if more information becomes available.

Health Minister Lesley Griffiths visits Treorchy

Last week, I was pleased to welcome the Minister for Health and Social Services, Lesley Griffiths AM, to Treorchy. We visited the Cwm Taf LHB Central Production Unit to view the new facilities and meet the staff who prepare and deliver catering services for patients in the region.

We also visited Ysbyty George Thomas, where Lesley officially opened the newly refurbished Supported Recovery Unit. As stated on the Cwm Taf LHB website, Ysbyty George Thomas comprises of 100 beds and currently provides 75 beds for the care of the elderly patients who experience mental health problems and 25 GP medical beds. Open access Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy for inpatients is also available on this site.

After tours of both facilities, and opportunities to speak to both service users and staff, I was impressed by what we saw and heard. Lesley also commented that the facilities for those suffering from mental ill health were a vast improvement in comparison to her time working in a hospital, prior to her involvement in front line politics.

More photos from the visit can be viewed here.

Wearing it Pink for Breast Cancer Campaign

 
Today I joined my fellow Assembly Members at the Breast Cancer Campaign’s ‘Wear It Pink’ photocall. Members from across the political parties are wearing various shades of pink clothing in order to increase awareness of breast cancer and to help raise funds for the charity.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Wales. It accounts for nearly a third of all cancers amongst Welsh women. Between 2006-08, averages of 2,509 women were diagnosed annually with breast cancer and 56 women died every year. The money raised from ‘Wear It Pink’ will fund innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure.

Find out how you can organise a ‘Wear It Pink’ day here!

 

Cwmparc doctor’s surgery - an uncertain future

 
I have recently been contacted about the future of Cwmparc doctor’s surgery, by constituents who are concerned that it may cease to exist.

Last week I met the Chair of the Local Health Board about this matter, emphasising the importance of retaining a surgery in Cwmparc. I have also written to the Local Health Board, urging them to look at alternative community venues in Cwmparc, which may be appropriate to house a doctor’s surgery.

Approximately 1,000 patients choose to visit Cwmparc Surgery and its closure would have a huge impact on local residents, especially those who are elderly and disabled. It is a vital public service for local people, and I am extremely keen for the Local Health Board to find a solution and retain its presence in this community.

Rhondda Breast Friends

A video of Health Minister Edwina Hart's visit to Rhondda Breast friends is now up on Rhondda TV

Save Free Prescriptions

The Tories want to abolish free prescriptions in Wales.

If you value them, sign up to keep them here

New Llwynypia Hospital update

As the Echo reports, I have had a letter from Edwina Hart in which she tells me she has instructed the NHS trust to open the new hospital as soon as it is practically possible.

 

Hospital Update

Health Minister Edwina Hart has told me that the review of the problems with the hospital flooring should be completed by the end of the month.

More here and here.