Reform UK amendment passes as West Wales hospital fears remain central political issue

THE SENEDD has backed a call for the Welsh Government to rule out hospital closures and service downgrades during the current Senedd term, following a heated debate over the future of the NHS in Wales.

The motion was originally tabled by the Welsh Conservatives and called on ministers to rule out “any hospital closures and downgrading of hospital services for the duration of the Seventh Senedd.”

The original wording was defeated, but a revised version was later passed after Labour added wording that any decisions must prioritise patient safety.

The final motion agreed by MSs called on the Welsh Government to rule out hospital closures and downgrading of hospital services “with all decisions prioritising patient safety.”

Reform UK also played a significant role in the debate. James Evans MS moved an amendment, tabled in the name of Llŷr Powell, calling on the Welsh Government to set out how much it intends to spend tackling the NHS maintenance backlog to prevent reductions in service delivery.

The amendment was passed by 44 votes to 42 and became part of the final agreed motion, making it one of Reform’s first significant interventions on NHS policy since the Senedd election.

Withybush concerns

The debate comes amid continuing concern in Pembrokeshire over the future of services at Withybush Hospital.

Earlier this year, Hywel Dda University Health Board approved changes to emergency general surgery, meaning patients at Withybush who need emergency operations would be transferred to Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen.

The health board has said Withybush will retain same-day emergency surgical care, but campaigners and local politicians have described the change as a serious downgrade.

During the Senedd debate, Preseli Pembrokeshire MS Paul Davies said the removal of emergency general surgery from Withybush was not a minor change, but a fundamental alteration to hospital services in west Wales.

He called on the Welsh Government to intervene and warned that communities in Pembrokeshire had already seen services centralised away from Withybush over many years.

Political row

The Welsh Conservatives accused Plaid Cymru ministers of failing to give patients certainty over the future of local hospitals.

Natasha Asghar MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, said: “It’s deeply worrying that Plaid Cymru failed to support our commitment to no hospital closures and no downgrading of services during this Senedd term.

“Patients deserve certainty that vital services will remain open and close to home when they need them most.”

Plaid Cymru has rejected the Conservative attack, arguing that NHS service decisions must be clinically led and based on patient safety.

Plaid MS Anna Nicholl also told the Senedd that protecting services at hospitals including Withybush and Bronglais was a priority.

The Conservative claim that Plaid has “given the green light” to hospital closures is a political interpretation of the vote rather than a decision to close any specific hospital.

What the debate does show is a clear divide over how far Welsh ministers should go in ruling out future service changes.

West Wales battleground

The issue is especially sensitive in west Wales, where the future of hospital services was one of the defining issues of the Senedd election campaign.

Concerns over Withybush, Bronglais and the distance rural patients must travel for emergency care helped shape the political mood in Ceredigion Penfro, where former First Minister Eluned Morgan lost her seat before resigning as Welsh Labour leader.

For communities in Pembrokeshire, the issue is not abstract. Withybush Hospital has been the subject of repeated campaigns over maternity, paediatrics, emergency surgery and other services, with many residents fearing that gradual centralisation is making healthcare less accessible in one of Wales’ most rural counties.

The Welsh Government and Hywel Dda have consistently argued that services must be safe, sustainable and clinically viable.

But campaigners say that in rural areas, distance itself is a safety issue, particularly when patients face long journeys to Carmarthen or beyond in an emergency.

The final Senedd vote means MSs have now formally backed a call to rule out hospital closures and downgrades, but with an important patient safety caveat.

For Withybush, the practical question remains whether that political vote will have any impact on decisions already made by Hywel Dda, or on future plans for hospital services in west Wales.

A WELSH GOVERNMENT minister has defended his approach to tackling bovine TB after being accused of lacking ambition by Conservative farming spokesman Andrew RT Davies.

Mr Davies challenged Rural Resilience and Sustainability Minister Llyr Gruffydd in the Senedd on Tuesday (Jun 23), claiming the government’s latest position contained “lots of reviews” but “little substance”.

He warned that bovine TB remained a major concern for farming communities and urged the minister to bring forward a clearer plan to eradicate the disease.

Mr Davies said: “Bovine TB is devastating for the countryside, yet for the past 20 years those in power have let rural communities down.

“Plaid Cymru ministers must get a grip of officials. They must not be allowed to curtail ambition to tackle this terrible disease.”

He added that the Welsh Conservatives would support the minister if he brought forward a “positive vision” for tackling bovine TB.

Responding, Mr Gruffydd said the government needed to wait for advice from the technical advisory group before deciding its next steps.

He said: “They have been charged with bringing forward concrete proposals on the way ahead.

“I think we wait for the experts to speak; we look at the evidence, we look at the science that they provide us, and then we get a grip and take action.”

Bovine TB remains one of the most divisive issues in Welsh farming. Farmers have long argued that the disease causes major financial and emotional pressure, while governments have faced difficult decisions over cattle controls, testing, wildlife management and disease eradication policy.

The exchange comes as farming unions continue to call for stronger measures to reduce the spread of the disease, while ministers say future policy must be guided by evidence and expert advice.

Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi praised for pioneering ideas to protect rivers, wildlife and the environment

A PEMBROKESHIRE school has been recognised at a prestigious Wales-wide climate awards ceremony after pupils impressed judges with innovative ideas to tackle biodiversity loss and water pollution.

Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi was named the winner of the Protect and Restore Nature category in Keep Wales Tidy’s Climate Challenge Cymru competition, inspired by The Earthshot Prize.

The school earned the award for a series of creative environmental solutions, including proposals for solar-powered systems designed to help protect rivers and lakes while improving local biodiversity.

Pupils and staff travelled to Cardiff to receive the award during a special ceremony held on Wednesday (June 17), where they were presented with their trophy by ecologist and nature campaigner Joe Wilkins.

Climate Challenge Cymru invited primary and secondary schools from across Wales to submit short videos showcasing innovative ideas to tackle one of five major environmental challenges, known as the Earthshots. These included creating a waste-free world, improving air quality, tackling climate change, protecting nature and restoring the world’s oceans.

The Pembrokeshire school’s winning entry stood out for its imaginative approach to protecting natural habitats and improving water quality through sustainable technology.

Lucy Vaughan, Geography Teacher and Leader of Pupil Voice at Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi, said: “I have been so impressed with all of the amazing entries that have been shared at this prestigious event and am immensely proud of our pupils for winning this challenge.

“The creativity, passion, teamwork and commitment they have shown have been truly inspiring. Their innovative ideas and determination to make a positive difference for the environment give me real hope for the future.”

Keep Wales Tidy Chief Executive Owen Derbyshire praised the standard of entries from schools across Wales.

He said: “It has been a privilege to spend the day at Climate Challenge Cymru, surrounded by the ideas and ambition of young people from right across Wales.

“The projects on display are a testament not only to their creativity but to their resolve to make a real difference in Wales and beyond. Seeing the next generation lead with such confidence gives me every reason to be optimistic about what lies ahead.”

The competition is organised by Keep Wales Tidy’s Eco-Schools team in partnership with the Welsh Government and is inspired by The Earthshot Prize, the international environmental initiative launched by Prince William to encourage practical solutions to the world’s biggest environmental challenges.

The success of Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi highlights the growing role Pembrokeshire’s young people are playing in developing innovative ideas to tackle environmental issues, particularly those affecting the county’s rivers, coastline and wildlife.

Photo caption: Award winners: Pupils from Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi celebrate after winning the Protect and Restore Nature category at the Climate Challenge Cymru awards in Cardiff, alongside Keep Wales Tidy Chief Executive Owen Derbyshire (left) and ecologist Joe Wilkins (right).