Russell George MS says families could face up to nine-hour round trips to visit family members recovering from a stroke if options presented by a Welsh Health Board proceed
Mid Wales patients and families face far longer journeys to access stroke recovery services under options being considered by Hywel Dda University Health Board. Montgomeryshire MS Russell George has again raised concerns with the Health Secretary in the Senedd this week.
Under options published by Hywel Dda University Health Board, stroke recovery services currently provided at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth, could be moved to hospitals in Llanelli or Haverfordwest. For many Mid Wales communities, this would mean a four- to six-hour round trip by car to visit loved ones recovering from a stroke, and up to nine hours by public transport, according to the MS.
Mr George warned that such distances would undermine recovery by cutting patients off from vital family support, especially given poor transport links across Mid Wales. He also stressed the need for equitable access for rural communities.
Responding to questions in the Senedd from Russell George MS, the Health Secretary said, ‘’what has been presented are not proposals, and that no decision has been taken.’’
Mr George has urged the Welsh Government to intervene and for Hywel Dda University Health Board to drop the relocation options entirely and commit to keeping stroke recovery services at Bronglais hospital, which serves vast areas of mid Wales.
Speaking after raising the issue in the Senedd, Russell George MS said:
“Moving stroke recovery services away from Bronglais hospital would isolate patients from their families and hinder recovery. These relocation options should be scrapped
“I found it rather peculiar that the Health Secretary asserted there are no proposals to relocate stroke services, instead describing the published options merely as a consultation. By definition, a proposal is a plan or suggestion put forward for consideration, which is precisely what the presented options represent.
‘’Furthermore, the Health Secretary implied that raising such questions could unnecessarily alarm the public. In reality, however, it is the options themselves that are generating considerable anxiety among people throughout our communities.
“People in Mid Wales deserve timely, practical access to stroke recovery services. Ministers must stop hiding behind semantics, and rule out removing services from Bronglais hospital, which is a vitally important hospital for our area.
“I am asking the Welsh Government and the health board to scrap the relocation proposals and prioritise and safeguard local access to stroke recovery in Mid Wales.”