CONCERN OVER PLANNED CHANGES TO FIRE SERVICE

I wrote recently to Carl Sargeant to raise concerns about proposed changes to the Fire & Rescue Services in Mid & West Wales.

This is causing massive concern throughout mid and west Wales. There is particular concern in Newtown, where full-time fire officers are to be replaced by a retained fire service, which would make it extremely difficult to get to incidents in due time. These proposals will not be made subject to public consultation.

It is vital that Minister makes a statement about these proposals to the Assembly.

STATEMENT NEEDED ON DYFI BRIDGE

I recently met with representatives of the South Meirionnydd Older People’s Forum who presented a petition to the Assembly in relation to the Dyfi Bridge.
They were calling for action to be taken to provide a second crossing.

Dyfi Bridge is frequently closed, partly because of heavy traffic causing difficulty on and much damage to the bridge, and partly, and increasingly, because of flooding. I know personally of the effect that the recent floods have had on that bridge. Later that day in the Chamber I called on the Transport Minister to make a statement on the important issue of the need for a new bridge across the Dyfi at Machynlleth.

BETTER NHS DATA REQUIRED TO AID SCRUTINY

I am increasingly concerned about the lack of data kept by the NHS to assist the scrutiny of health services in Wales.

In answers to written questions I have been told that the data are not available to show how much is being spent on dementia-related illnesses in Wales and we cannot find out the amount spent per patient on cancer care, stroke care, heart disease and multiple sclerosis.

The Nuffield Trust has stated that there is a concern across all of the devolved administrations about the quality and quantity of available data.

It certainly makes a difference when we are trying to scrutinise the health service and its performance in the way that everyone wants to see to ensure that we get the best from our excellent staff and the health service.

The Assembly Government needs to address this issue because it makes a difference to the performance of the health service and to the scrutiny that we as Assembly Members can give it.