Minister Has Sixteen Days To Publish Solution To A&E Crisis

12.00.00am GMT Mon 21st Feb 2005

Welsh Liberal Democrats are giving Health Minister Brian Gibbons a two week deadline to draw up the treatment needed for Wales' accident and emergency 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.

Assembly Leader Mike German said: "The crisis in our A&E departments is the most pressing issue in Wales today. Both the Health Minister and the First Minister have visited A&E departments in the last two weeks, but we have yet to hear of any action they are taking to relieve the pressure. If these visits are to be anything more than sightseeing trips, then we need to see a firm plan of action as a result.

"There are a number of factors which have led to these problems - issues around the out-of-hours GP cover, bed blocking, lack of capacity. The Minister has heard from the staff on the front line, he knows the difficult circumstances they are working in. Now he must act."

One possible way of easing the burden on A&E departments could be the introduction of walk-in treatment centres, which provide treatment for patients who might otherwise turn up at A&E departments. These treatments including dressings, blood tests and minor ailment treatment. Both Mr German and Health spokesperson Kirsty Williams have visited such centres, which are strongly supported by the Royal College of Nursing.

Kirsty Williams added: "Freeing up beds which are occupied by people who no longer need hospital treatment is one part of the solution. Filtering out the least urgent cases before they get to A&E is another. By March 9 the Minister will have had three weeks since he conducted his whistlestop tour of Welsh hospitals to see the problems for himself.

"This government has a track record of inaction when it comes to the NHS. That's why we feel it is important to set a deadline, to ensure that hard working doctors and nurses are given the support they deserve and expect, to give all of us the standard of treatment we demand."

Notes: On Wednesday Welsh Liberal Democrats' will lead a debate with the following motion. 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.