Royal Glamorgan Hospital
RCT Local Health Board and others are holding a consultation on the future of health services in RCT/Merthyr. Last week there were reports that staff at the hospital had been told that the facility might be downgraded. As I said in the Assembly last week I think it would be inconceivable that such a modern facility would be downgraded. But I do urge local people in Rhondda Cynon Taff and local health-workers to make their submissions to the Local Health Board's consultation on future services, which ends on 25th June.
It would obvously be bonkers to downgrade Wales's newest hospital, the Royal Glamorgan. We are fortunate in RCT to have modern hospital facilities, with a new community hospital now being built in the Rhondda at Llwynypia as well.
Local people and local health-workers have the opportunity to make their support for our local services crystal clear in the consultation now under way. I congratulate Amicus and ither unions on having responded so rapidly. As a District General Hospital, the Royal Glamorgan provides important facilities across the full range for my constituents, including A and E services. I do not believe for a moment we will lose them but it is importnat people make their views clear.