Swansea measles: Conservatives call for public inquiry

Ministers have not been approached about the cost of the outbreak

The Welsh Conservatives have called for a public inquiry into the Swansea measles epidemic once it has subsided.

Public Health Wales says the number of cases in the outbreak has passed 1,000, with about 5,000 youngsters still needing vaccinating.

Conservative health spokesperson Darren Millar said an inquiry was vital "so lessons can be learned for the future".

The Welsh government said it would seek to learn lessons but there were no plans to hold a public inquiry.

Mr Millar also urged the health minister to underwrite the increasing costs of dealing with the outbreak.

Describing the 1,000 mark as "an extremely worrying milestone", he said the outbreak "continues to grow and remains of great concern".

"When the epidemic has subsided, it is crucial that an independent public inquiry is set up by the Welsh government so that lessons can be learned for the future", he said.

'Fire-fighting'

"Increasing costs continue to be piled upon health boards, who are already struggling to make ends meet, and I urge the minister to confirm his willingness to underwrite the costs associated with the outbreak as a matter of urgency," Mr Millar added.

'Appropriate response'

He warned money worries were "the last thing that NHS bosses need when they are fire-fighting a potentially deadly disease".

In response, a Welsh government spokesperson said: "The Welsh government, NHS and Public Health Wales will, of course, look at what lessons can be learned from the current measles outbreak, but there are no plans to hold a public inquiry.

"The continuing rise in numbers of measles was anticipated, due to the infectious nature of the illness and its relatively long incubation period, and health boards have been planning accordingly.

"The Welsh government has not been approached by any health boards with concerns about the cost of the outbreak and expects the NHS to respond to the changing health needs of the population and, in this situation, to mount an appropriate response to the outbreak."

A vaccination programme has been running in schools and hospitals with 4,000 receiving the MMR jab in the last month alone.

A total of 84 people have been treated in hospital since the outbreak began last November while a post-mortem examination into the death of a man from Swansea who was suffering from measles proved inconclusive.

An inquest into the death of Gareth Colfer-Williams, 25, was opened and adjourned on Tuesday to allow further tests.