Welsh Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson on fact-finding visit to Swansea

2.37.50pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 26th Oct 2006

Jenny Randerson AM

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Jenny Randerson AM, will be joining local Assembly Member, Peter Black, on a fact-finding visit to Swansea tomorrow.

Mrs. Randerson and Mr. Black will be visiting Swansea NHS Trust and Social Services Chiefs to find out for themselves what the impact of the reconfiguration agenda is on local health services. They will also be visiting the South Wales Evening Post to be briefed on their very successful campaign against the transfer of adult neurosurgery from Morriston Hospital to Cardiff. The two AMs will be given a tour of the neurosurgical unit by Swansea NHS Trust officials.

"With the recent announcement of the closure of Fairwood Hospital and Ward One Hill House, and the closure of 57 beds in our main hospitals, it is clear that the health service locally is going through quite significant change," said Mr. Black. "The Trust faces a deficit of £12.6m, it is seeking to move more services out into the community and to Primary Care Centres and it is looking at the possibility of merging Singleton and Morriston Hospitals into one super hospital. We are interested in hearing more about the problems and issues that surround those decisions and talking to other stakeholders to get their view as well. As a result, as well as meeting with the Trust, we will also be getting views from the Unions and from Swansea Council Social Services."

"The issue of Adult Neurosurgery is causing huge controversy locally and I am anxious that Jenny Randerson hears the Swansea case. Although the final decision will be taken by the health minister, all the party health spokespeople need to be fully briefed on this issue."