A&E Crisis Is Latest Symptom Of Labour's Mishandling Of Health

12.00.00am GMT Wed 23rd Feb 2005

Welsh Liberal Democrats will today highlight Labour's failure to provide proper strategic direction for the NHS in Wales - as illustrated by the latest crisis in A&E departments.

In recent weeks, casualty departments at Welsh hospitals have been coming under incredible pressure resulting in occasions when the doors have been closed to all but the most urgent cases. Patients have been left waiting for hours on trolleys, and ambulances have been blocked in queues, unable to pick up new cases.

The minority party debate, led by the Welsh Liberal Democrats, is the first chance that AMs have had to debate the issue at length.

Health spokesperson Kirsty Williams said: "Uniquely in the NHS, our A&E departments are the one service that each of us will have used, or visited with a friend or relative, at some stage of our lives.

These units are the very front of the front line of the NHS where life and death hang in the balance on a daily basis. Where waiting times are often measured in seconds and minutes, because anything more can be too long.

"So it is a matter of concern to us all when these life-saving departments are forced to shut their doors to all but the most urgent cases. That is what has happened in recent weeks."

Ms Williams explained that the March 9 deadline was necessary because of the government's record of failing to act on motions put forward by other parties.

She added: "There is a reason why TV programmes like ER and Casualty regularly top the ratings on both sides of the Atlantic. Yes, the quality of writing and acting is one reason, but the dramatic events that take place in these emergency areas are something we can all connect with.

"We have all been at the bedside of someone in great pain, or in need of urgent treatment - if we haven't been the patient ourselves. That's why Labour's failure to provide a strategic plan to ensure this kind of crisis does not happen again is so worrying. It is symptomatic of what is wrong with Labour's management of the NHS.

"The staff who work so hard in our A&E departments never let us down. Minister, over the next two weeks we are asking you to ensure that you don't let them down."

Concluding the debate Assembly Leader Mike German said: "We do not expect to see emergency wards closing their doors; we do not expect to see Ambulances queuing around the block to offload patients; we do not expect to hear of patients in pain waiting for interminable hours on trolleys.

"What we expect is a Minister who can show leadership in a crisis, who can hear the concerns of staff - which have been made very plain - and respond appropriately.

"Minister, I look forward to seeing a response."

Notes:

The Welsh Liberal Democrats' motion reads:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales: Directs the Minister for Health and Social Services to present a plan by March 9th 2005 to this Assembly setting out his actions to end the crisis in A&E.