PLAID CYMRU Shadow Health Minister Elin Jones has criticised Labour for its complete failure to deliver on a key election manifesto pledge, and promised that Plaid Cymru’s key health pledges would be delivered by a Plaid Cymru government.
Plaid Cymru’s plans to create a Cure and Care NHS include: A national commitment on cancer to guarantee a diagnosis or the all-clear within 28 days, plans to cut waiting times by investing in an additional 1,000 doctors and 5,000 nurses and plans to abolish home care charges for the elderly and for people with dementia.
Elin Jones said that she had set out how these projects would be delivered, and that the people of Wales could hold her to account to them if she were Health Minister.
Elin Jones highlighted Labour’s 2011 election pledge to extend GP opening hours to evenings and Saturdays, noting that Labour completely failed to deliver their goals.
Five years after this pledge, Elin Jones said that four out of Wales’ seven health boards offered no evening appointments at least one day a week, whilst the number of evening appointments offered had fallen in two health boards.
Plaid Cymru Shadow Health Minister Elin Jones said: “Plaid Cymru has made three promises on health to the people of Wales. If I am elected Health Minister in May’s election, then we will ensure a diagnosis or the all-clear for patients with suspected cancer within 28 days; we will cut waiting times by training and recruiting a thousand extra doctors, and abolish home care charges for the elderly and for people with dementia.
“Our pledges have been carefully planned and are deliverable. When the people of Wales vote for Plaid Cymru, they know that they can hold us to account on those pledges.
“Unfortunately, the Labour government cannot be trusted, and has completely failed to deliver on one of its five key election pledges. Labour committed to introducing evening appointments after 6:30 in the evening, and weekend appointments. In Cardiff and the Vale, Cwm Taf, Powys and Betsi Cadwaladr, not one GP practice offers it.
“In other health board areas, the number of practices offering evening appointments has actually fallen over the last five years, whilst only two GP practices throughout the whole of Wales offer Saturday appointments.
“This is yet another example of Labour’s complete failure to deliver for the people of Wales. Pledges made in the fervour of an election have been cast to the wayside.
“The people of Wales trust Plaid Cymru to deliver on its promises as we strive to deliver the change Wales needs.”
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