Llanelli hospital protest 'was just a stunt'
MORE than 300 residents turned out with placards to show Wales's First Minister how worried they are for the future of Llanelli's hospital.
Carwyn Jones was in the town to attend the 15th anniversary of drug intervention centre Chooselife.
-
Protestors shout as First Minister Carwyn Jones arrives at the Choose Life centre on Copperworks Road Llanelli
But residents were there to protest against the proposed axing of the Accident and Emergency unit at Prince Philip.
Rallied by news this week that ward five – which has 20 beds – could close by the end of next month, supporters lined Copperworks Road.
They were kept waiting for over an hour until Mr Jones arrived.
While some of the protesters had Plaid Cymru placards, many had made their own banners in support of the hospital.
Louisa Williams, 32, from Llwynhendy, said she had come to protest because she was worried how cuts could affect her six-year-old son.
She said: "My son Gabriel is always depending on the hospital.
"He was born severely deaf in both ears and needs new moulds taken for hearing aids regularly because he's a growing boy."
Retired surgeon Hugh Evans said: "There is absolutely no doubt about lives being in danger from these cuts to A and E.
"A town Llanelli's size should have five surgeons and it only has one."
Protest organiser, Councillor Winston Lemon, who represents Plaid Cymru, said: "A lot of the people here are elderly – the people who need the services more than most people."
"I think it's gone very well. Unfortunately we have had some delay tactics.
"Mr Jones doesn't relish the confrontation.
Feeling
Councillor Sian Caiach said: "I hope the First Minister realises the strength of feeling in Llanelli for keeping our hospital services.
"There are a lot for ordinary people here. There is nobody that doesn't want to keep them."
The independent councillor dismissed claims the protest was political.
"There's a cross-section of people from Llanelli here, as well as staff from the hospital and the anti-cuts campaign," she said.
"I think it's back to the drawing board – I don't think the health board's proposals are sustainable at all."
But Carwyn Jones dismissed the protest as "a Plaid Cymru election rally" and refused to be drawn on the future of services at Prince Philip.
"They are people who have come here to serve their own ends," he said.
"They're not interested in drug rehabilitation, they're not interested in Llanelli, it's basically a Plaid Cymru election rally.
"This has nothing to do with the hospital."
laura.burnip@swwmedia.co.uk
7 Comments
by djwilli
Saturday, February 04 2012, 1:21AM
“antyall
Your dismissal of the protest as a Plaid stunt indicates you are one of those who sits on their hands while being derogatory of others who take an interest and make an effort to change things that are going wrong. Look back objectively over the past 6 years and the protesters are right. We are all being hoodwinked by Hywel Dda as a vast amount of work is being carried out at Carmarthen to prepare for centralising services there while they say no decisions have been made. Pembrokeshire & Ceredigion are even worse off as Morrison is 12 miles away while St Davids, Fishguard & Newport are 50-55 miles from Carmarthen. The whole scheme is flawed and maybe all protest groups should liaise and have one massive protest at the Welsh Assembly.
djwilli”
by KarenMBR
Tuesday, January 17 2012, 9:49AM
“This protest was not a political stunt .
The proposed closure of Ward 5 and the down grading of our A & E department are a disgrace .
The people of Llanelli need and deserve a fully functioning hospital , not to have a 40 plus mile round trip to Glangwilli each time .
Would Mr Carwyn Jones like to live so far from emergency treatment himself ? This has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with common sense .”
by seasolder
Sunday, January 15 2012, 8:33PM
“Typical politican taking this protest as a political sham. If thats the best Carwyn Jones can come up with then we in Wales should question, his understanding & commitment , to the Welsh people who are rightly worried over the closure of the Prince Phillip hospital.
Time to ask is this Minister the right person to lead Wales forward? I for one sincerly doubt he is.”
by globaltec
Sunday, January 15 2012, 1:38PM
“This is no stunt A@E & Ward 5 is on the blink off closeing down and its up to the public to STOP it from closeing down like the 1st time when i protest out side A@E b4 in 2009 and with strong support the A@E reopend then in 2009 .LLANELLI deserves better .ty”
by williamwaun
Friday, January 13 2012, 9:10PM
“Things will only get worst in Welsh hospitals with the labour assembly in control of them. We can see in Wales our waiting list are out of control, 10,154 patients had to wait more than six months for an operation many more wait longer.”
by antyall
Friday, January 13 2012, 5:21PM
“You can always rely on Plaid to pull a stunt that frightens people for no reason. Its called scare mongering! Plaid Cheap stunt from cheap wannabe politicians, no more plaid votes from me . Si an Caiach or should that be CaChi. You can only cry wolf once or twice before you are found out to be a liar.”
by huwwuh
Friday, January 13 2012, 10:31AM
“You can always rely on a 'turk' to get it wrong.”