MINISTER HAS TO INTERVENE FOR THE SECOND TIME ON FAILING ORTHOPAEDIC SERVICES

  22^nd October 2010

William Graham (Conservative AM for South Wales East) responding  to Assembly Health Minister Edwina Hart placing the Aneurin Bevan Local Health Board in special measures over excessively long waiting times for orthopaedic surgery.  

“I am concerned that the Minister has had to take this action against the Aneurin Bevan Local Health Board; it is 'not acceptable' that patients have to wait over 6 months for surgery”.  

“This is not the first time that an Assembly Health Minister has had to take action against unacceptable waiting times for orthopaedic surgery in Gwent. In November 2002, Professor Brian Edwards was called into inquire into the unacceptable level of waiting lists in the county. His report highlighted that patients were being added to the orthopaedic list faster than they could be treated”. 

“As a result of Prof Edwards report the Assembly Government announced a £10m to resolve staffing issues, increase physical capacity and to fund a orthopaedic centre at St. Woolos Hospital, that included 2 operating theatres and a dedicated orthopaedics ward at Neville Hall Hospital”. 

“The need for enhanced provision of orthopaedic services has been acknowledged for many years as our aging population will place increasing pressures upon this service”. 

“We expect, following the Minister’s action, immediate improvements to this service”