Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:41 pm on 23 January 2018.
The point is, First Minister, that people need an integrated health system and community services that complement district general hospitals, not replace them. People in the west are still going to need emergency treatment. They will still need operations, they will still need overnight stays and accident and emergency within a reasonable distance of their homes. Now, a Plaid Cymru government will keep these essential services for our rural communities. That means A&E for Bronglais and Glangwili, and keeping Withybush open.
Now, Plaid Cymru has been warning you for a number of years now about the need to train more doctors. Will you work with Swansea medical school on its proposals to expand the number of doctors in the Hywel Dda health board area? Can you assure people out there, and Members here today, that you will not sign off any decision to remove A&E from Bronglais or Glangwili? Will you also confirm that the Labour Government will not sign off any decision to close Withybush or to remove A&E services from that hospital?