Janet Finch-Saunders, Assembly Member for Aberconwy and Shadow Minister for Local Government and Communities, has today received confirmation that funding for Llandudno Hospital has been reduced in this financial year, causing further delays in its enhancement scheme.
In response to a letter from Janet, the Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has confirmed that the Minor Injuries Unit has had capital funding of £740,000 and the Women’s Centre by £10,000 delayed until the next financial year. Although Janet has been assured that these cuts will only cause slight delays in the projects, there are still questions left unanswered.
Janet said: "I am absolutely furious that this has happened, despite many assurances and promises that Llandudno Hospital would be safe from any downgrades, as well as the fact that a strategic enhancement scheme has been on the table for years. To delay this project yet again is truly disappointing. We need a guarantee from the Minister that no more funding delays will occur."
Lord Wyn Roberts, who represented the Conwy constituency for many years, added: "The people of Wales and no more so than here in Conwy, have been badly let down. This is a betrayal of their expectations. It is a very sad day indeed."
Guto Bebb MP also expressed his disappointment at the announcement stating;
"A further delay to the investment into the MIU is disappointing since the project is crucial to the Hospital and the Town. We now need full confirmation from the Labour Health Minister in Cardiff that the promised investment in Llandudno will materialise."
23rd May 2012
:
Lesley Griffiths: "I do not want to see the downgrading of any services in Wales."
"As I said earlier, I do not want to hear any talk about downgrading. No services will be downgraded."
"I can reassure you that there will be no downgrading, because I do not want to see any downgrading of services."
"I have just said that there will be no downgrading. I do not want to hear the word 'downgrading’. I want to see better services, so I do not know why we keep going on about downgrading."
27th June
:
Lesley Griffiths: "…I certainly do not want to see any downgrading of any services.
"I do not want to see any downgrading. What do I mean by that? I do not want to see services get worse. Upgrading means services getting better and I would have thought that that is what all of us would want to see, right across Wales."
"Let me repeat once again, for the record, that I of course understand how strongly people feel about their local hospital services and can assure everyone that no district general hospital in Wales will be closed, nor will their services be downgraded, under this Government."