"Bureaucratic delays must not hold up development of dialysis unit in Welshpool" - Mick Bates AM (Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats)

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Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats <montlibdems@gmail.com>

"Bureaucratic delays must not hold up development of dialysis unit in Welshpool" - Mick Bates AM

January 20, 2009 12:00 AM

Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates has continued the campaign for a dialysis unit in Welshpool, criticising the First Minister in the chamber for bureaucratic delays which have held up the development of a new dialysis unit in Welshpool Hospital.

According to recent correspondence from the Minister, following an all-Wales prioritisation exercise facilitated by the Renal Advisory Group and Renal Networks on 6 January 2009 new dialysis provision for Powys was confirmed as a priority. However, an option appraisal will now follow and Welshpool will be only one of the locations considered under this appraisal.

Commenting Mick stated:

"I am pleased that at long last Powys has finally been confirmed as a priority for new dialysis capacity. But this falls against a backdrop where over many years hopes have been raised and dashed and patients must still travel unacceptable distances to access treatment in Shrewsbury or Hereford.

"The Welshpool Hospital League of Friends have raised much money to support the development of facilities at Welshpool Hospital, which reflects the depth of support for community hospitals across Wales.

"Clinicians in Shrewsbury have argued that Welshpool is the optimum location for the development of a new dialysis unit. It is crucial that a decision over the location of new treatment facilities is not held up any further by bureaucratic delays, which have for too long hindered the development of dialysis facilities in Powys.

"I urge the Assembly Government to make a decision as soon as possible to develop new dialysis facilities in Welshpool, so that people across the country can receive treatment in Wales and no longer have to travel such long distances for dialysis provision elsewhere."

Notes:

• Latest statistics show there are currently 27 people recently dialysis treatment in Powys, 20 of whom travel to Shrewsbury Hospital for treatment while 7 travel to Hereford Hospital.

End/Diwedd