2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:07 pm on 19 February 2019.

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Photo of Siân Gwenllian Siân Gwenllian Plaid Cymru 3:07, 19 February 2019

(Translated)

You will know that I've asked several times in the Chamber about the expectations of the Government in terms of our health boards, and how transparent and open they are in their operations. You'll also know that I feel that Betsi Cadwaladr health board, which is under your control, of course, because they are in special measures, are trying to make important decisions about services by the back door. Now, the health Minister has said that that isn't happening, but it was a great surprise then to find this week that the board won't be meeting next week. If you go to the website, you will see that the meeting has been cancelled—'Meeting stood down' is what the website says. Now, I was going to attend that meeting next week—that's why I was looking for the details—because in that meeting there was going to be a discussion about the three-year plan for the health board, which was going to talk about important changes to local services. But the meeting has disappeared. I'd like to ask whether it has been cancelled in its entirety to the public, or whether it's cancelled for the public only. So, we need to know, and why it has been cancelled.

I also understand that the board hasn't confirmed a u-turn that would have meant losing emergency vascular services from Ysbyty Gwynedd—something that concerns a great many of my constituents. We've heard from the board that this u-turn has happened, but the board hasn't confirmed it, so I would like some clarity, urgently, on what's happening with that service as well.