As always, healthcare is always one of my top priorities and when it comes to Wrexham, the Welsh Government has frankly neglected health services. Despite the UK Government handing the Welsh Government £18 billion a year, which is the largest annual funding settlement to Wales since devolution began, access to healthcare in Wrexham is getting worse. This is why I launched my health campaign; calling on the Welsh Government to step up and properly fund and manage the NHS in Wales.
Last Friday, I met with the acting Chief Executive of BCUHB to discuss winter bed pressures, the shocking emergency treatment wait times, and pending strikes. With the Wrexham Maelor Hospital recently being ranked the worst in Wales for the number of patients seen within the four-hour waiting time target, improvements cannot wait any longer. This is why I am calling for a new hospital to be built in Wrexham, one that is modern, fit for purpose, and has the capacity to treat patients when needed.
It is particularly worrying that whilst I already hear horrendous healthcare stories from constituents, the Welsh Government continues to fail to prioritise spending money where it matters most to constituents and does not address these issues.
Following the meeting with the Chief Executive, I was pleased to meet with the Operational Director of BCUHB to applaud the work being undertaken at the Maelor for Veterans to work towards its accreditation as Veterans Aware. This is a step in the right direction for Veterans’ healthcare and services.
My campaign to improve access to healthcare continues and if you have not done so already, please visit my website and sign my campaign to send the Welsh Government a strong message that Wrexham deserves better! Follow this link to give your say: https://www.sarahatherton.org.uk/healthcare-wrexham.