Welsh Conservative Assembly candidate for Clwyd West Darren Millar has welcomed a manifesto pledge to reopen a minor injuries unit at Colwyn Bay Community Hospital.
The previous unit was closed in February 2013 after 115 years of service to the town, but it could be re-opened under Welsh Conservative plans to turn around the performance of the Welsh NHS and improve access to unscheduled care.
The pledge was made in the 'Welsh Conservative Manifesto for Health' which was published this week and launched in Colwyn Bay.
Darren, who is the Health Spokesperson for the Welsh Conservatives, said:
“The Bay of Colwyn is the largest population centre on the North Wales coast; it deserves to have its own minor injuries unit.
"The town has a large number of elderly and vulnerable residents, many of whom do not have access to transport; travelling to Llandudno or Bodelwyddan is not easy for a lot of the people living here.
“Community hospitals are an integral part of the Welsh NHS which help to make services more accessible for patients and take pressure off our main hospitals. This Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board axed it despite strong public opposition and it has lead to increasing pressures in the emergency department in Bodelwyddan - it should not have been closed in the first place."
He added:
“I know many would welcome the re-establishment of this vital community health service. As residents who attended a public meeting I organised prior to its closure told me: an ageing local population; poor public transport; plans to increase housing in the area; and the sporting developments in the town, are just some of the reasons why a Minor Injuries Unit is desperately needed in Colwyn Bay.”
Picture Caption: Welsh Conservative Leader Andrew RT Davies and Clwyd West Candidate Darren Millar launching the Manifesto for Health at Colwyn Bay Community Hospital