10. Short Debate The role of community hospitals in 21st century healthcare

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:44 pm on 7 February 2018.

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Photo of David Lloyd David Lloyd Plaid Cymru 5:44, 7 February 2018

This, really, is to celebrate the phenomenal success of the NHS, actually. Let's set all this in context: back in 1950, King George VI, I think it was then, signed 250 birthday cards for people who were 100 years old—there were 250 centurions throughout the whole of the United Kingdom then. Fast-forward 40 years to 1990, Queen Elizabeth II had to sign 2,500 birthday cards for centurions in 1990. Fast-forward to two years ago, she had to sign 13,700, and last year, another 14,500 birthday cards for centurions. So, if nothing else, the phenomenal success has implications for the work-life balance of the monarch.

Obviously, that means that there are an awful lot of people in our towns and villages walking around who are older and more frail than they used to be, and that's why we need more beds in our communities. It can be in a care home, and, yes, community hospitals. Yes, we've been there with Fairwood, Hill House Hospital, and Cwmdonkin hospital in Swansea—yes, I am that old. [Laughter.] But there is a category of people now, because we are all living longer, who are just too ill to be left in their homes, even with the most surprising amount of domiciliary care packages, but they're also not ill enough to justify being on an acute medical and surgical emergency ward bed. We need that creative thinking involving community beds. Diolch yn fawr.