Labour politicians attack injury unit cuts

Labour politicians in Llanelli, including a UK Wales office minister, have attacked a decision to temporarily cut back overnight cover at a minor injuries unit (MIU).

The town's Member of the Senedd (MS), Lee Waters, called on his party leader Eluned Morgan to intervene in the decision at Prince Philip Hospital.

Llanelli's Labour mayor John Prosser and the MP for the area, junior minister Nia Griffith, have also raised concerns over the closure.

The first minister told the Senedd that the Hywel Dda health board had failed to recruit qualified doctors to support the unit.

Plaid Cymru accused Labour of "rank hypocrisy" and "trying to pull the wool over the eyes" of people in the town.

Hywel Dda said it had taken the decision to ensure the safety and confidence of people attending the MIU.

The MIU will be closed from 8pm to 8am for six months from 1 November, under a decision taken by the health board last week.

The board heard the reason for the overnight closure was "due to a significant and continued lack of medical cover", which had led to concerns about the safety of patients and staff welfare.

The board also agreed to cut capacity at a children's ward in Aberystwyth's Bronglais hospital, and to close the remaining nine beds at Tregaron hospital in Ceredigion.

Lee Waters is one of a group of Labour members who have raised concerns over the changes

The Welsh Parliament heard that a protest camp has been set up outside the hospital.

In the Senedd, Lee Waters said the health board had promised that overnight care would be maintained.

"At very short notice and with no consultation or engagement they have changed their mind now."

He said staff at the health board had not been making an active effort to recruit GPs and it was "poor management of the unit that is putting people off".

Calling for the Welsh government to step in, he said: "If overnight police or fire cover was removed from one of Wales' largest towns I'd expect intervention. I don't see why healthcare should be any different."

"The health board clearly don't understand Llanelli if they think that people will just let this go."

Morgan told Waters that she "absolutely" understood "the frustration".

"The health board has attempted, as I understand it, to recruit qualified doctors to support the unit but has been unsuccessful".

This meant the unit had become nurse-led. Between February and July there were 42 uncovered slots in the rota, the Senedd heard.

Morgan said the health board had to ensure services were safe, but that it was important they listen to the local population.

The first minister added that 32% of overnight activity came from people with serious conditions "who shouldn't actually be presenting to a minor injuries unit".

"The stress of people turning up with major issues is causing a significant number of absences. I do think we have to be practical and realistic about the situation."

'People are up in arms'

Nia Griffith, the Labour MP for Llanelli and a Wales Office minister, said on social media network X she was "very concerned" at the proposals at the MIU.

On the day of the board meeting she said she had asked the board why the decision was taken before a consultation, and had asked for more to be done to keep the unit "permanently open 24/7".

Llanelli town mayor, Labour councillor John Prosser, has written to Wales' health minister calling on him to intervene.

Mr Prosser wrote the letter as secretary of Save Our Services Prince Philip Action Network (SOSPPAN), a campaign group he told BBC Wales was "apolitical".

"People in Llanelli are up in arms," said the mayor, who said he stayed overnight at the protest camp.

"Staff are very supportive. Nobody wants to see it close down, because if they close it at night it will never be re-opened, we just don't believe them."

Plaid Cymru Cefin Campbell, MS for Mid and West Wales, said he was "staggered by the sheer hypocrisy of local Labour politicians who are trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the people of Llanelli in this matter by absolving their party of any blame".

"They seem to forget that the Labour Welsh government have run the NHS in Wales for the past 25 years. Prince Philip was downgraded on their watch when the A&E closed some 10 years ago – and now this."

Prince Philip Hospital’s Minor Injury Unit Clinical Lead Jon Morris said the board understood public concern about the MIU decision.

“The Health Board took this decision to ensure the safety and confidence of people attending the MIU as we need to able to provide a fit for purpose service during all opening hours.

“At the moment, the inability to consistently cover the rota with suitably qualified doctors, particularly during the evenings and overnight, carries risk to our patients and our staff."

Mr Morris added: “While this temporary change is in place, it is important to stress that Prince Philip Hospital continues to provide acute medical care for the local population."