Shadow Health Minister Darren Millar AM is urging residents across North Wales to have their say on controversial plans to downgrade maternity and other women’s clinical services at hospitals in the region.
The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is currently seeking public views on proposals to change the way maternity, gynaecological and breast surgery services are provided after a judge ordered a consultation in the wake of a legal challenge earlier in the year.
The Health Board’s plans could see doctor-led maternity services suspended at either Glan Clwyd Hospital, Wrexham Maelor Hospital or Ysbyty Gwynedd.
Darren visited the maternity unit and special care baby unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital recently, just days after joining hundreds of protestors on Rhyl Promenade on Bank Holiday Monday who are campaigning against changes to hospital maternity services in North Wales.
Darren said:
“I don’t want to see any hospital services downgraded and I am determined that doctor-led maternity services should be maintained at each of our three main North Wales hospitals.
“Suspending these services would put the lives of vulnerable babies and their mothers at risk and that is not something which I am prepared to accept.
“The prolonged uncertainty is having a devastating impact on hardworking NHS staff and is causing unnecessary worry for expectant mothers and their loved ones – they should not have to pay the price for the failure of Health Board bosses to get to grips with staff recruitment and retention problems.”
“It is vital that as many people as possible have their say on the future of these important services before the consultation deadline on the 5th October so that the Health Board will see common sense and maintain these services.”
Responses to the consultation can be made as follows: By post: Women’s and Maternity Services Consultation, FREEPOST, RSZZ-SGXY-TSEZ, LL17 0JG. By email:NWalesHaveYourSay@wales.nhs.uk . Online at: www.wales.nhs.uk/nwmaternity . By telephone: Freephone 0800 169 3142
The Health Board is expected to make a final decision on services in November.