3. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:52 pm on 21 May 2019.

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Photo of David Lloyd David Lloyd Plaid Cymru 2:52, 21 May 2019

(Translated)

Trefnydd, last Friday, I attended a public meeting in Cwmllynfell in Neath Port Talbot, along with other Members of this place, to discuss the closure of the medical surgery in the village—a decision that will ultimately be made by the Swansea Bay University Health Board. Although the surgery is located in Cwmllynfell, it’s part of the Amman Tawe partnership, which serves populations in Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot and Powys and encompasses three health boards, namely Hywel Dda, Swansea bay and Powys. Now, it’s clear that people in Cwmllynfell don’t want to lose their local surgery, with many concerned about the problems in accessing other locations using public transport, such as Ystalyfera and Pontardawe. Now, there’s a large population, of around 11,000 people, in this relatively rural area, from Cwmtwrch, Ystradowen, Cwmllynfell, Gwauncaegurwen and Brynaman, which are miles away from any urban centres. Although the Swansea bay health board will make the final decision, what has emerged is that the decision needs to have input from each of the three health boards involved. Would the Welsh Government therefore be willing to make a statement on this issue and review the process of deciding on the future of primary healthcare services when those services are provided across more than one health board, particularly where the location, as in this case, with a very high number of residents and a long way from everywhere else, crosses three health boards. Thank you.