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Caution as health plans 'on hold' Caution as health plans 'on hold'
(about 14 hours later)
Campaigners have given a cautious welcome to the First Minister's announcement that Welsh hospital re-organisation has been put on hold. Campaigners and opposition politicians have given a cautious welcome to the announcement that Welsh hospital re-organisation has been put on hold.
Some hospitals were due to be closed and services centralised under Labour proposals for "reconfiguration", a big issue in the assembly election.Some hospitals were due to be closed and services centralised under Labour proposals for "reconfiguration", a big issue in the assembly election.
However, health service managers have called for the pause to be short. But health service managers said "the tide of change" could not be stopped.
Health experts have also warned that Welsh hospitals cannot afford to continue as they are now. First Minister Rhodri Morgan said the announcement was "an olive branch" to other parties to find a way forward.
Mr Morgan wrote letters to Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats in which he revealed Labour's intentions to review its hospital plans.Mr Morgan wrote letters to Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats in which he revealed Labour's intentions to review its hospital plans.
During the assembly's first full business session since the election, Mr Morgan said changes still needed to be made and called on the opposition parties to come up with solutions.
In the letter, Mr Morgan also said that his government would undertake that already agreed changes in district general hospitals would not be implemented until associated community services were in place.In the letter, Mr Morgan also said that his government would undertake that already agreed changes in district general hospitals would not be implemented until associated community services were in place.
The fact is that we cannot hold back the tide of change Mike Ponton, Welsh NHS Confederation
Speaking on Thursday morning, Mr Morgan said changes to the health service needed to be made to give the Welsh public medical services for the 21st century.
However he said people might need to see "services being brought closer to their home before they will accept some of the services have to move further from home".
"This is a problem facing health administrations all over the western world," he said.
"We cannot live in Wales with second class hospital services."
He added that he did not think there had been a time in Welsh politics when "olive branches had been held out so extensively" to opposition parties to discuss an issue.
Helen Mary Jones said a full consultation was needed
Plaid health spokeperson Helen Mary Jones said she hoped the announcement was more than just "a stay of execution" and she was happy to take on the challenge of working with Labour on the issue.
"It is particularly crucial they have acknowledged people won't accept changes to hospital services until they can see services in the community to take their place," she said.
Nick Bourne, leader of the Welsh Conservaties, said he needed some more answers over any reorganisation.
"If it's simply we're having a pause and then coming back with it, that's not good enough," he added.
HopeHope
Campaigner Jean Daniels, who is hoping to keep Abergele hospital in Conwy open, said the announcement gave them hope.Campaigner Jean Daniels, who is hoping to keep Abergele hospital in Conwy open, said the announcement gave them hope.
Community leaders hoping to save HM Stanley hospital at St Asaph from closure said they hoped the review would lead to threatened services at the hospital, which include eye treatment, being retained.Community leaders hoping to save HM Stanley hospital at St Asaph from closure said they hoped the review would lead to threatened services at the hospital, which include eye treatment, being retained.
But Linda Groom, from the Llandudno Hospital action group which is campaigning to retain coronary and acute services there, warned that the moratorium could simply delay the inevitable.But Linda Groom, from the Llandudno Hospital action group which is campaigning to retain coronary and acute services there, warned that the moratorium could simply delay the inevitable.
The Welsh NHS Confederation - which represents health service management - said Mr Morgan was right to review its proposals so that community services could be put in place.The Welsh NHS Confederation - which represents health service management - said Mr Morgan was right to review its proposals so that community services could be put in place.
But Mike Ponton, director of the confederation, said any pause in the process of change would have to be short to ensure the delivery of 21st century care to the people of Wales.But Mike Ponton, director of the confederation, said any pause in the process of change would have to be short to ensure the delivery of 21st century care to the people of Wales.
Health expert Professor Marcus Longley said the NHS in Wales could not afford to continue as it is now. "The fact is that we cannot hold back the tide of change," he said.
"The quality of care is not as good as it should be," he said. And health expert Professor Marcus Longley said the NHS in Wales could not afford to continue as it is now.
"If we are aspiring to have the best care in the world then we don't try to run everything in 16 hospitals across Wales. We simply cannot sustain that."