Responding to the Betsi Cadwalader Health Board consultation on the proposals for changes to NHS services in North Wales, Clwyd West AM Darren Millar has called on the Health Board to listen to local concerns about Colwyn Bay and Ruthin Community Hospitals.
In his written response, Shadow Health Minister Darren, who held public meetings in both towns last month to inform residents about the proposals and to canvas their opinion on the plans, emphasises the strong opposition to these proposals in both Ruthin and Colwyn Bay.
Darren said:
“From the community meetings and the views expressed in communications to my office, it is clear that there is strong local opposition to axing minor injury unit services in Ruthin and Colwyn Bay.
"It is essential that the views of the public are listened to by the health board and that the people of North Wales are able to influence decisions about NHS services in their area.”
In his written response Darren states:
“Should the proposed MIU closure go ahead, then Colwyn Bay will be the only major town in North Wales without an MIU service and the Conwy East locality will be one of only three in North Wales without such a service. As the largest population centre on the North Wales coast this is completely unacceptable."
With regards Ruthin he states:
“There is considerable strength of feeling throughout south Denbighshire at proposals to close the MIU and x-ray services at Ruthin Community Hospital. The hospital serves a population from Ruthin and many miles around and there is concern that this wider catchment area has been overlooked by the Health Board in forming its proposals.
“Many of my constituents are of the opinion that, given the geography of south Denbighshire and the sparsity of the population in this predominantly rural area, Ruthin Community Hospital is a great location to act as a hospital hub for the locality.”
Picture: Clwyd West AM Darren Millar at the public meeting in Ruthin last month