Nia Griffith MP has welcomed the reaffirmation by Health Minister Mark Drakeford that emergency care services at Prince Philip Hospital with be clinically led by doctors. The Minister made the point during an interview with the Llanelli Star whilst on a visit to Llanelli this week. Nia will be calling on the Health Board to ensure that it recruits and keeps up staffing levels in A&E, and backs this up with specialist services, in order to tackle the appalling problem of ambulances queuing outside hospitals.
Nia Griffith MP has taken immediate action after seeing the wording of a letter from the Health Minister to Llangennech Community Council about the future staffing of emergency care services at Prince Philip Hospital.
Nia explained,
“I have written to the Health Minster today, asking him to spell out exactly what he means about the A and E at Prince Philip Hospital. We want a doctor-led service, and the Minister has told us in one letter that it will be doctor-led, but the wording in the letter to Llangennech Community Council reflects the health board’s document that made us so angry last January. We need much more detail on where the doctors will come from and categoric assurances that there will be doctor cover on site in A & E 24 /7. I want to know about their plans every step of the way, including detail about the availability of doctors. The Minister has told us that there will be no change in the category of patient that will be seen at Prince Philip Hospital so I am seeking absolute assurances that these patients will have access to exactly the same level of care and expertise as at present. Patients need doctor expertise.”