Health

Hands off our hospital: 17,000 demand Senedd saves stroke services

Published

5 months ago

October 7, 2025

SENEDD Members have scrutinised a 17,000-signature petition calling for action to save stroke services amid fears for the future of frontline hospital care in mid and west Wales.

The petition to save services at Bronglais Hospital was one of three considered by the Senedd’s petitions committee today (October 6), with others raising the alarm over a “crisis” at Glangwili Hospital and the loss of weekend services at Cardigan’s minor injuries unit.

Campaigners urged the Senedd and Welsh Government to intervene immediately to protect the stroke unit at Bronglais Hospital amid plans to downgrade the service.

Under consultation proposals, stroke patients presenting at the Aberystwyth hospital could be transferred to the Prince Philip in Llanelli or Withybush in Haverfordwest.

Hywel Dda health board has argued the changes are necessary to make stroke services more sustainable, with centralisation improving staff recruitment and retention.

In a letter, Wales’ health secretary Jeremy Miles told the petitions committee no decision has been taken by the health board about the future of stroke services.

Mr Miles, who is standing down in May, said the Welsh Government sets the strategic direction of NHS Wales but health boards are responsible for planning and delivery.

In his letter, he told Senedd Members: “Health boards must provide safe and sustainable services which meet the needs of their population.

“Anyone experiencing stroke or suspected stroke, regardless of where they live, should be seen and treated as quickly as possible in the most appropriate setting which can provide the most effective treatment.”

Cautioning that existing services are fragile, Mr Miles said emerging expert advice suggests the NHS should treat acute stroke care as a specialist service provided regionally.

But Bryony Davies and Lisa Francis, from the Protect Bronglais Services campaign group, expressed concern and disappointment with the health secretary’s response.

The campaign group highlighted “overwhelming” public and political support for retaining the stroke unit, urging the health board to “go back to the drawing board”.

They pointed out that retaining Bronglais, which scores comparatively highly for the quality of its stroke services, was not even among the options in the health board’s consultation.

The pair criticised a lack of evidence and detail on how a downgraded service would work in a rural area with an ageing population and poor transport infrastructure

In a letter to the committee, they wrote: “Successful rehabilitation for stroke patients is largely dependent on the care and motivational support of loved ones. These proposals mean a round trip of 200 miles for many patients and visitors.”

Discussing the petition during today’s (October 6) meeting, the committee agreed to request time for a debate on the matter in the main chamber or Siambr.

Senedd Members also discussed a petition calling for urgent action to address a “crisis” at Glangwili Hospital following the loss of services at other hospitals in west Wales.

Raising concerns about corridor care, with patients forced to sleep in chairs, petitioner Christine Castle said: “The NHS staff are doing their best but the situation is untenable.”

In a follow-up letter, Ms Castle told the committee people feel terrified as she warned people’s lives are being put at risk by services being withdrawn in rural Wales.

She said one ward manager told her the health board’s strategy was to “buy better chairs”.

The committee considered a third Hywel Dda-related petition: to keep weekend openings at Cardigan minor injuries unit which ended in March as Welsh Government funding dried up.

Mr Miles said the opening hours and management of the minor injuries unit is a matter for the health board which is developing a business case after trialling the seven-day model.

Senedd Members agreed to write to the health board, seeking an update on the petitions.

Health

Welsh Ambulance Service to host bi-monthly Board meeting

Published

2 days ago

March 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE is preparing to host its bi-monthly Board meeting – and the public are invited.

Join the meeting on Thursday 26 March via Microsoft Teams to hear senior leaders cover a full agenda, including approval of the Integrated Medium-Term Plan for 2026-29, which outlines what the organisation will prioritise and deliver, how it will use its resources and how it will continue to improve care for the people of Wales over the next three years.

Board members will approve the initial revenue budget for the year ahead and receive an update on current financial performance.

The Board will also hear from Mr Clarke from Cwmbran, who describes an experience of trying to access help via 999 for his late father who was terminally ill.

There will also be an opportunity to pose a question to the Board.

Chair Colin Dennis said: “Board meetings give you the opportunity to really get to know our ambulance service, with a clear view of how important decisions are shaped and the processes behind them.

“They also create a forum to hear directly about ongoing work, explore how we can strengthen support for the Trust’s staff and patients, and connect with the people responsible for shaping those decisions.”

Click here to watch the Board meeting on Thursday 26 March 2026 from 9.30am.

This link will be active from 10 minutes before the meeting starts.

To pre-submit a question, please email [email protected] by no later than Wednesday 25 March 2026.An agenda will be available on the Trust’s website in the days prior to the meeting.

Health

Pharmacies carry out record number of consultations for common health issues

Published

2 days ago

March 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PHARMACIES across Wales carried out more than 600,000 clinical consultations for a wide range of common health issues over the last twelve months, according to the latest community pharmacy services statistics.

Almost 346,000 people used the Common Ailments Service, which offers free advice and treatment for twenty-seven common conditions and is available in ninety-nine per cent of pharmacies across Wales.

Figures covering April 2024 to March 2025 show that more than 462,000 Common Ailments Service consultations took place during the period – the highest number ever recorded.

The most frequent reasons people sought help from their local pharmacy included sore throats, hay fever, conjunctivitis and dermatitis.

Pharmacies also carried out more than 53,000 consultations specifically for sore throat treatment, around 33,000 consultations for contraception advice and treatment, and over 121,000 consultations to provide emergency supplies of medicines.

During those emergency consultations pharmacists issued more than 189,000 prescription-only medicines to patients who had run out of medication and were unable to obtain a new prescription in time.

In addition to these consultations, pharmacies across Wales dispensed more than eighty million prescription items over the same twelve-month period.

The Common Ailments Service allows people to receive treatment closer to home while helping free up GP appointments for patients with more complex or urgent medical needs.

Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said: “Community pharmacies play a vital role in providing healthcare across Wales.

“Nearly half a million consultations in a single year shows just how much people value being able to walk into their local pharmacy and get the help they need quickly, without having to wait for a GP appointment.

“We are working to ensure more people can receive convenient care closer to home, and expanding access to these services is a key part of that.

“The right care, in the right place, at the right time — that is what people in Wales want, and what our pharmacies are delivering.”

Community

Lessons from COVID-19 highlight need to strengthen voluntary sector resilience

Published

2 days ago

March 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEW report has urged the Welsh Government to work more closely with voluntary organisations to ensure communities are better prepared for future emergencies.

The call comes from the Senedd’s Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee, which examined how lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic have shaped Wales’ current emergency planning.

The report highlights the crucial role played by voluntary groups during the pandemic, particularly in supporting vulnerable people and responding quickly to rising community needs.

Clair Swales, Chief Executive of the Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO), welcomed the committee’s findings and its recommendation that government bodies strengthen collaboration with the voluntary sector and commissioning organisations.

The recommendation includes making greater use of long-term funding arrangements to support infrastructure investment and improve the sector’s ability to respond to sudden surges in demand during emergencies.

Giving evidence to the committee last November, Swales warned that continued financial pressures across the sector could weaken its ability to respond effectively in future crises.

She said: “If I was asked to bring the third sector together to respond to an emergency at this moment, I could. However, future involvement may become more challenging as the sector continues to face significant financial and capacity pressures.”

The committee’s report, published on Tuesday (Mar 11), explored how the Welsh Government and public bodies responded to the pandemic and what improvements have been made since.

It also considered findings from Module 1 of the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, which examined resilience and preparedness across the UK.

Swales said the report recognises that the work carried out by voluntary organisations during the pandemic came at a significant cost to the sector.

She added: “Evidence from a number of voluntary organisations shows the sector is facing considerable funding and resource challenges.

“We will continue to work with commissioners and the Powys third sector to maximise opportunities, represent the sector’s voice in policy and investment discussions, and ensure rural communities are considered when funding and commissioning services.”

The report has been submitted to the Welsh Government and will be debated by Members of the Senedd during a plenary session on Wednesday (Mar 18).

Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations is the County Voluntary Council for Powys and operates offices in Newtown and Llandrindod Wells.