Health minister denies 'meddling'

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Health Minister Brian Gibbons has denied "political meddling" by ordering an inquiry into the decision to move emergency surgery from Llanelli.

Health chiefs had planned to make the changes at Prince Philip Hospital next month, moving services to Carmarthen.

Dr Gibbons said he told AMs that any changes in health could not compromise patient safety.

But Swansea University health economist Prof Ceri Phillips questioned the timing of the inquiry.

Dr Gibbons and First Minister Rhodri Morgan agreed to hold the inquiry after receiving a delegation led by Llanelli Labour AM Catherine Thomas on Monday.

Speaking to BBC Wales on Tuesday, the health minister denied opposition claims of electioneering ahead of May's assembly elections.

Alternative vision

He said: ?I think the concerns she's (Ms Thomas) raised with me I'm sure are precisely the concerns of the people of Llanelli.

He also said he wanted to be sure that the right health provision was in place for people in Llanelli.

"I want to be happy that first of all if there is an alternative vision for Llanelli, that people in Llanelli can see the shape of that alternative vision in a real and concrete way," said Dr Gibbons.

Brian Gibbons says he wants to be sure of health provision in Llanelli

"I think we do need to be assured that if change is necessary for reasons of patient safety or whatever that the appropriate emergency alternative arrangements are in place, such as ambulance protocols."

He said reason why they needed the inquiry was "to be absolutely satisfied that if a decision was made in relation to transferring emergency surgery, that the basis on which that decision was made was robust".

Financial targets

But Prof Phillips said the Royal College of Surgeons first recommended the split in surgical provision in April 2005.

"It's a little bit unfair on the trust, they are making decisions which they think are rational decisions.

"They have got financial problems, they do need targets with regards to waiting times, they do need to hit financial targets.

"People could put an interpretation on it that it is quite interesting within a few months of an election this proposal has been subjected to an inquiry.

"Given that this could have been done nearly two years ago, there are grounds for asking why wasn't it done then."