Don't Get Sick in January!

4.02.00pm GMT Tue 25th Jan 2005

"Don't get sick in January." That was the message from Wales' First Minister Rhodri Morgan today as Mike German, Assembly leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, took him to task over conditions in the Emergency Unit at Wales' flagship hospital.

During First Minister's Questions, Mr. German referred to an e-mail he received from a sister at the hospital, detailing the despair of staff in the Emergency Unit at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.

He was stunned to hear the First Minister describe such problems as "not much more than would be found in January in most urban hospitals".

Mr. German said: "The flagship hospital in Wales has people waiting 51 hours on a trolley. It has babies that cannot find a bed. And the First Minister seems to think that is normal! It is unacceptable - not normal."

"This situation cannot go on. I was hoping the First Minister would re-assure me that he would be making sure that it would not go on. I was disappointed by his lack of conviction in response and his attempts to shift the blame elsewhere."

The First Minister said he could make no guarantees, citing unpredictable events like a flu epidemic.

In reply Michael German added: "No wonder staff are in despair, when the First Minister can see a cry for help, and say this is 'normal for January'. I don't believe this is normal, but if it happens every year, then you would have thought he would have a plan to deal with it after five years in government. This latest illustration shows that the Labour Assembly Government has no clear strategy for the NHS in Wales."