Chester on the Web - Visit Chester on the Web your Ultimate Guide

Datganiad i’r wasg

www.markisherwood.com

ISHERWOOD: ANGER AS HEALTH MINISTER AGAIN IGNORES PATIENT’S WATCHDOG IN NORTH WALES

AN Assembly Member, who for months has been fighting for North Wales Community Health Councils to maintain a strong voice, was furious yesterday after the Welsh Minister for Health again ignored their concerns about radical changes to the way they operate.

North Wales regional AM, Mark Isherwood, called for an oral statement on community health councils (CHCs) during the Business Statement in the Assembly, but was categorically told by the Minister for Business and Budget, Jane Hutt, that Health Minister Edwina Hart has previously made two statements on this issue: an oral statement in the Chamber and a written one issued to all AMs, and therefore will not be commenting further.

Mr Isherwood, who last year appealed to the Minister to consider the concerns of Clwyd CHC and Conwy Federation of Community Health Councils, is appalled she has again failed to listen to theirs and other North Wales CHCs' serious key worries.

“The Minister has once again ignored the expressed concerns and wishes of our patients'  voice, our community health councils,” he blasted.

Calling for a statement, Mr Isherwood stressed that “a matter of such public interest and concern deserves more than a retrospective written statement issued because of concerns expressed following the letter of 29 January, which most Members were not even aware of until those concerns were raised with us after that date.”

He added: “In the Minister’s belated statement regarding recent criticism of her words, she talked about engagement events across Wales. I attended such an event in Wrexham, and, among the political parties, including your own, and among the health professionals and the community health council representatives, there was universal outcry and opposition.

“Reference was made in her written statement to her oral statement in the Chamber last year. After that statement, I raised with her the concerns of the north Wales community health councils, quoting from the submissions made to her, which said that the proposals were seriously flawed and would seriously inhibit the day-to-day workings of a proactive community health council. Her response was: 'I want to indicate that this is my statement on this issue and that is my total response to the issues that have come through in the consultation.’

“She refused to address the issues raised by the community health councils, representing more than 20 per cent of Wales’s population.

“Last week, I was sent a copy of a letter that the Conwy Federation of Community Health Councils sent to the Minister on January 6. It said that it supported the proposals, but felt that it was appropriate to express its serious concerns about what it considers the impracticalities of certain of the Minister’s proposals. An individual who wrote to the Minister said that they, and many others, felt offended, disappointed and undervalued.

“Yesterday, I received a letter from a senior politician in north Wales who stated that this consultation was a sham and should be exposed as such. Public interest demands more than a written statement on a Friday afternoon to Assembly Members.”

ENDS