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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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Neurosurgery postponement is a matter of expediency
November 8, 2006 7:30 PM
Peter Black at Morriston Hospital
The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has welcomed the decision that consideration of the location of adult neurosurgery is to be postponed so that Health Commission Wales can do more research, but has questioned the motives behind the postponement.
Health Minister, Brian Gibbons made the announcement this evening, arguing that Health Commission Wales need to take account of new factors that have arisen out of the consultation exercise before making a recommendation to him. However, the announcement comes a week before a crucial vote in the Assembly in which local Labour members would have faced voting against their own government.
Mr. Gibbons also indicated that, although the additional work by Health Commission Wales might be completed in March, the election period would prevent any progress being made on their recommendation until after the Assembly elections. This mirrors almost exactly the situation around the relocation of children's brain surgery from Swansea to Cardiff, when the decision was postponed for more work but once the election was out of the way Labour moved it to Cardiff anyway.
"I think that we are entitled to be very sceptical about this announcement," said Mr. Black. "Although I am optimistic that once Health Commission Wales take into account factors such as the management of patients with major and polytrauma, and intermediate head injury, and the continued delivery of elective and acute spinal surgery, then a clear case can be made to keep Neurosurgery in Swansea, it still looks like a political fix to me."
"We now need to use the additional time to press on Health Commission Wales and the Miinister the dangers of moving this unit from Swansea. To do so would compromise the only trauma centre in Wales and put tens of thousands of people at risk due to dangerous travel times. HCW also need to take account of the location of the neurosurgery unit in Bristol in making their decision."
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