Shadow Health Minister Darren Millar AM is supporting today’s decision by North Wales Community Health Council to challenge the way Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board made the decision to scrap doctor-led maternity services at Glan Clwyd Hospital.
The Community Health Council has today written to the Welsh Health Minister to say that it does not accept the Health Board's position that the proposals for Glan Clwyd represent an urgent service change and are of the opinion that a full consultation should have been undertaken prior to the Board making a decision.
They are also of the opinion that there is a lack of supporting evidence, including a risk assessment, to inform the decision.
Darren, who attended and spoke at Saturday’s protest rally against the changes at Rhyl Events Arena, said:
"I fully support the Community Health Council's position. It is clear that the Health Board's proposals are not urgent and that they have been planning these changes for sometime.
"Welsh Government guidance on proposals for significant service change is clear; plans should not be made behind closed doors and there should be widespread public consultation. Yet instead the Board failed to consult with key stakeholders, patients and the frontline staff who will be affected by their plans and refused to share Board papers in advance of its deliberations. This is totally unacceptable behaviour.
"The whole matter has been handled in a very underhand manner. Families in North Wales should not have to pay the price for the failure of Health Board bosses to get to grips with staff shortages and recruitment and retention problems.
"Taking away maternity services for some of the most complex pregnancies and forcing expectant parents to travel further is downright dangerous.
"I call on the Welsh Government to consign these proposals to the dustbin so that doctor-led care can continue to be provided."
Picture Caption 1: Shadow Health Minister and Clwyd West AM Darren Millar with Chris Ruane MP and Ann Jones AM putting political differences aside at Saturday’s protest to support the campaign to retain doctor-led maternity services at Glan Clwyd Hospital.
Picture caption 2: Shadow Health Minister and Clwyd West AM Darren Millar with Marsha Davis of Little Miracles UK, who organised Saturday’s protest.