Tag: Press Release

The press release issued by the Welsh Conservatives on 19 December 2022.

Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board described demand on its services over recent days as “unprecedented”, leading to the declaration of a critical incident and the postponement of all but the most urgent procedures.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Health Minister Russell George MS said:

 “As ever there is plenty of disappointment but no shock to hear that North Wales’ health board is once again in trouble and unable to cope – it is, sadly, a tale as old as time for staff and patients in the region who have been let down by the way the NHS has been run there by the Labour Government in Cardiff Bay.

 “We need to hear urgently from Labour’s Health Minister to know what the plan of action is, especially with more strikes from nurses and ambulance workers imminent – patients must have confidence that they can access the safe healthcare there taxes pay for.

 “When we see that the problem is insufficient beds, it stings all the more when we know Labour has cut a third of NHS beds in the devolution era and have waited so long to address bed-blocking where healthy people are stuck in hospital because they cannot be discharged somewhere safe.

 “I really do fear that 2022 may have been a terrible year for the Welsh NHS – with treatment waiting lists, A&E waits, and ambulance response times all hitting their worst rates on record over the last 12 months – but, under Labour, things can still get worse.”

The press release issued by the Welsh Conservatives on 18 December 2022.

Wales’ health minister has said she is “hopeful” ambulances would get to the most serious calls when paramedics plan to strike on Wednesday and the First Minister admitted that the Labour Government decided against a better pay offer for nurses to help protect NHS spending.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Health Minister Russell George MS said:

“It’s good that the First Minister has finally admitted that he and his Labour colleagues have made a political choice in not giving nurses a pay rise, but he still needs to find a solution to this strike so patients can get safe healthcare.

“However, nurses and ambulance workers in Scotland paused strike action when they sat down and received a different pay offer, so it is totally disingenuous for the First Minister to say there is nothing he can do and blame others for something that is entirely a devolved responsibility.

“I am also surprised that the Health Minister is so candid, only being hopeful that ambulances will actually reach the most serious situations. However, that seems to be the case even when there isn’t a strike on, with Wales recording its slowest response times on record in October.

“Labour need to get a grip on the NHS and stop breaking all the wrong records.”

The press release issued by the Welsh Conservatives on 14 December 2022.

The Welsh Conservatives have welcomed indications from the Welsh Government that a third bridge linking Anglesey to Great Britain is “very likely”.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Transport Minister Natasha Asghar MS said:

“I fully support a third Menai bridge between Ynys Môn and North Wales, and look forward to this becoming a reality.

“We have seen from residents in Anglesey just how difficult it has been for them – whether they’re workers or business owners – with the one of the two current bridges being closed after years of neglect.

“Having three functioning bridges will be a huge boost to the economy and hugely complement a potential freeport and reopening of the Wylfa nuclear power plant.

“We now need Labour ministers in Cardiff Bay to also end their ban on roadbuilding, scrap plans for 20mph default speed limits across Wales, and the 50mph zones on major roads because we can’t accelerate economic growth if politicians are slowing us down.”

The press release issued by the Welsh Conservatives on 14 December 2022.

The Welsh Conservatives had long been calling for the enormous reserves held by many councils to be put to better use to ease the fiscal situation.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Local Government Minister, Sam Rowlands MS said:

“I welcome the funding settlements for councils that bares a degree of reflection to the substantial usable reserves held by some councils.

“It is worth repeating these calls as the hundreds of millions of reserves could certainly be put to better use delivering frontline services to local people.

“We were also pleased to see that our calls for fair funding for rural communities being listened to, with North Wales councils finally finding themselves in the top half of the table.”

10 of the 22 Welsh councils had usable reserves of over £100 million. Rhondda Cynon Taf council had been sitting on £207 million, according to the Labour Government’s own figures.

The press release issued by the Welsh Conservatives on 13 December 2022.

The Leader of the Opposition accused the Labour First Minister of Wales of making a political choice not to talk to the Royal College of Nursing and other unions to prevent strike action over the coming weeks.

Andrew RT Davies MS asked Mark Drakeford why no new offer was made to striking workers given the powers the Labour Government has over NHS pay and working conditions, as well as tax.

The exchange comes after news of a man who had broken his hip was taken to hospital strapped to a plank in the back of a van after his granddaughter was told no ambulances were available.

Commenting afterwards, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies MS said:

“Don’t let Labour ministers in Cardiff Bay pretend that this isn’t their own political choice.

“Nurses and ambulance workers in Scotland paused strike action when they sat down and received a different pay offer, so it is totally disingenuous for the First Minister to say there is nothing he can do and blame others for something that is entirely a devolved responsibility.

“If Mark Drakeford really wanted to improve the pay offer, he could use the tax levers he has at his fingertips. He could also discuss the working conditions of NHS staff.

“Let us not forget that Labour’s mismanagement of the NHS means NHS staff and patients have to deal with the longest treatment waiting lists, worst A&E waits, and slowest ambulance responses in Britain.”

The press release issued by the Welsh Conservatives on 13 December 2022.

The press release issued by the Welsh Conservatives on 13 December 2022.

The Labour Government will be unveiling their draft budget on the 13th of December. They are likely to blame a lack of funds from the UK Government for their spending decisions.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Finance Minister, Peter Fox MS said:

“The Labour Government in Cardiff Bay have an opportunity with this Budget to fix the structural issues in Wales, from reducing Wales’ record waiting lists, to properly funding our education system, to unlocking the Welsh economy.

“Labour may try to cry helplessness and pass the buck, but they possess the financial levers and have the decision-making powers. Labour needs to use the considerable additional funding from the UK Government to deliver a Budget that meets the needs of families and businesses.

“The Welsh people’s priorities are rightly unblocking the social care system, investing in vital public services, tackling waiting times within the Welsh NHS and supporting families with the cost-of-living.
“This has to be a Budget of delivery, and this is what the Welsh Conservatives will be pushing for.”

Following the UK Conservative Government budget last month, Wales is to benefit from an extra £1.2 billion over the next two years. The Welsh Conservatives are arguing that this should be spent on tackling the NHS waiting lists.

This follows on from the Spending Review where the Welsh Government budget would be on average £2.5 billion higher than the baseline for the next three years.

The Welsh Government receives £1.20 for every £1 spent on public services in England, yet Welsh pupils receive £100 less a year compared to England.