Socialist Party Wales Socialism In Wales
By Dave Reid
The struggle to retain a permanent, consultant-led, 24/7 A&E at Royal Glamorgan hospital has entered a new, important phase.
The executives at Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board (CTMUHB), which had previously announced that only two Minor Injuries options for the hospital were on the table, has given verbal assurances that it intends to restore an A&E at the hospital.
This concession follows a huge community campaign of thousands in Rhondda Cynon Taff. Across the borough thousands of working class people have thrown themselves into the defence of their hospital that has involved the active participation of hospital workers, doctors and nurses at the hospital and patient groups. Nearly 1000 hospital workers have signed Unite’s petition. Communities across the Rhondda valleys are festooned with the orange bows of the campaign.
Over 500 rallied mid week at the Senedd pressurising the Assembly to pass a motion in support of the A&E in defiance of the first minister and health minister. Another 500 massed outside the meeting of the Health Board with over 100 pouring into the meeting itself. Victory is within our grasp.
Even the floods that have caused over £100 million damage in the area have not dampened the mood – they have intensified the anger. The rally at the health board took place in the shadow of the landslide that ran down a nearby coal tip – the threat posed by the hundreds of tips in the borough have reminded people of the Aberfan disaster and also of the fighting traditions of the mining communities that our area has inherited.
The health board says that it is not possible to retain an A&E at the Royal Glam because the last remaining consultant is retiring in April. It has advertised to fill the post but claims that there have been no applicants. But the campaign has pointed out that the intention contained in the Welsh government’s plan for the NHS, the South Wales Programme, to close the A&E is deterring applicants – who would apply for a post that is disappearing?
So a key demand is for the Welsh government and the health board to withdraw the South Wales Programme and support the permanent retention of A&E at the Royal Glam.
And the verbal assurance by the Health Board leaders must be made certain – added as an option in the consultation and adopted by the Board.
Socialist Party Wales is also calling for the A&E to be kept open while the consultant’s position is filled, using temporary locums and consultants from the other A&Es in CTMUHB. Royal Glam A&E must not close! Even temporarily.
And just one consultant is not sufficient. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine recommends that ten consultants should available for each A&E. So we are demanding that the CTMUHB opens up a a sustained recruitment campaign to bring the A&E up to the full compliment.
A glorious victory for the Royal Glamorgan campaign and for people power is entirely possible now, but the pressure must be stepped up – more rallies and marches.
