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'Disquiet' on brain surgery move 'Scaremongering' claim on surgery
(about 3 hours later)
Critics of proposals to move brain services in north Wales say a public meeting will focus attention on "huge disquiet" over the idea. Health Minister Edwina Hart says any suggestion that a decision has been made on moving north Wales neurology services is "pure scaremongering".
No decision has been made on plans for patients to travel to Swansea or Cardiff rather than Liverpool, says the assembly government. A public meeting in Colwyn Bay has been called by Tory MP David Jones to focus on "huge disquiet" over the idea.
Clwyd West MP David Jones expects about 150 people in Colwyn Bay, with health officials on hand to answer questions. But Ms Hart told him she will not be there on Friday night because it has been called on a "false premise".
In Wales, adult neurosurgery is carried out in both Cardiff and Swansea. She said no decision has been made on plans for patients to travel to Swansea or Cardiff rather than Liverpool.
But patients from north Wales travel to the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Liverpool for treatment. Clwyd West MP Mr Jones said he expected about 150 people in Colwyn Bay town hall, with health officials on hand to answer questions.
Conservative MP Mr Jones said around 600 in-patients from north Wales were treated there each year, in addition to a larger number of out-patients. In Wales, adult neurosurgery is carried out in both Cardiff and Swansea, but patients from north Wales travel to the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Liverpool for treatment.
Mr Jones said about 600 in-patients from north Wales were treated there each year, as well as a larger number of out-patients.
The minister [pictured] does recognise the strength of feeling over neurosurgery. But let's be clear, no decision has been made on the future provision of neurosurgery services in north Wales Welsh Assembly Government statement
He said the trip from north Wales to Liverpool by car would take patients about 90 minutes, which was preferable to a five-hour car trip from Colwyn Bay to Swansea. "This is not an all-Wales solution," he added.He said the trip from north Wales to Liverpool by car would take patients about 90 minutes, which was preferable to a five-hour car trip from Colwyn Bay to Swansea. "This is not an all-Wales solution," he added.
There were protests over the possible closure of the Swansea unit
Journeys to Cardiff or Swansea would not only affect the patients but their families, he said.Journeys to Cardiff or Swansea would not only affect the patients but their families, he said.
In 2006, plans to create a single service in Cardiff were announced after a Health Commission Wales report.In 2006, plans to create a single service in Cardiff were announced after a Health Commission Wales report.
It recommended the service be centralised in Cardiff, but Health Minister Edwina Hart put controversial plans to shut the specialist unit in Swansea on hold in July after a high-profile campaign. It recommended the service be centralised in Cardiff, but Ms Hart put controversial plans to shut the specialist unit in Swansea on hold in July after a high-profile campaign.
Travel costs
At the time, Aberconwy Plaid Cymru AM Gareth Jones asked whether there was an alternative to having two specialist centres in south Wales.At the time, Aberconwy Plaid Cymru AM Gareth Jones asked whether there was an alternative to having two specialist centres in south Wales.
He suggested that a location somewhere like Llandudno would be ideally situated for patients in north Wales.He suggested that a location somewhere like Llandudno would be ideally situated for patients in north Wales.
But Ms Hart said she wanted to make sure as many non-emergency operations as possible were done in Cardiff and Swansea, warning that Wales could lose part of its service unless best use was made of it. But Ms Hart has said she wanted to make sure as many non-emergency operations as possible were done in Cardiff and Swansea, warning that Wales could lose part of its service unless best use was made of it.
The panel, which will look at a scheme to pay patients' travel costs, is due to report back in October. A panel which will look at a scheme to pay patients' travel costs is due to report back in October.
The assembly government has now said Ms Hart has written to Mr Jones to tell him that she will not be at the meeting.
"The minister does recognise the strength of feeling over neurosurgery," said a statement.
"But let's be clear, no decision has been made on the future provision of neurosurgery services in north Wales.
"Any suggestion that there has been, would be pure scaremongering. Arrangements stand as they currently are."
"An independent review into the future of neurosurgery in Wales is being set up and is to be chaired by Mr James Steers, a consultant neurosurgeon based in Edinburgh."
The assembly government added: "This is a difficult and sensitive issue and one in which we all need to work together to find a solution that is in the best interests of patients and health professionals."
The meeting is at Colwyn Bay town hall at 1900 BST on Friday.The meeting is at Colwyn Bay town hall at 1900 BST on Friday.