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Warning Over Hospital Beds Axe

Posted on: Thursday, 22 September 2005, 09:01 CDT

COUNCIL chiefs warned last night closing North Wales hospital beds would leave them with a cash headache.

Dozens were expected to pack a public meeting tonight to oppose Gwynedd Local Health Board's plans to axe 17 beds at Blaenau Ffestiniog hospital.

Gwynedd council's social services director, Glyn Hughes, warned in a report to councillors: "Closing beds will put additional pressure on carers.

"This could mean that carers would need more assistance. Already the resources available to support carers is insufficient."

The council's head of finance, Dafydd Edwards, added: "It appears that the LHB recommendations for both Blaenau Ffestiniog and Tywyn would result in substantial additional expenses for social services.

"I support the call for an intensive assessment before any final decisions are taken."

Tonight's public meeting at Ysgol y Moelwyn, called by the Gwynedd LHB, follows last Saturday's rally when more than 1,000 people marched through the town to oppose the loss of the Blaenau hospital beds.

The LHB will decide the future of both the Blaenau Ffestiniog and Tywyn hospitals in November.

Health chiefs say community health services in the Blaenau area must be modernised.

The LHB backed an option for the hospital to become a primary care resource centre with no inpatient beds.

But the plan was rejected by the Blaenau Ffestiniog Hospital defence committee

Source: Daily Post; Liverpool

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