Future of rural health services

Lord Elystan Morgan

Lord Elystan Morgan

30 August 2013

Lord Elystan Morgan will chair a debate on the future of health services in rural Wales at Aberystwyth University on Wednesday 4 September.

The debate, which is open to members of the public, is being organised by the Centre of Welsh Legal Affairs and takes place in the International Politics Main Hall, on the Penglais Campus between 4:00 and 6:00p.m.

In 2009, Lord Elystan Morgan was invited by the then Health Minister, Edwina Hart, to look into the provision of care in rural areas, and how this could be improved.

The resulting report, Rural Health Plan: Improving Integrated service delivery across Wales, published in 2010, made a number of recommendations as to how existing services could be integrated in order to improve service delivery.

Debate organiser, Dr Glenys Williams said; “Interest continues to be shown in the important issue of the delivery of healthcare services in rural Wales. This is especially pertinent in Ceredigion, where there has been protracted debate as to the future of Bronglais hospital and other cottage hospitals in the county. Debate also surrounds, for example, the shortage of doctors and dentists; out of hours services; and the closure of rural surgeries.

“Matters have, of course, moved on since then, but this document remains the basis for continued discussion”, added Dr Williams, “and we very much hope that members of the local community will take the opportunity to attend this event, with a view to contributing to what is hoped will be a lively debate.”

The Centre for Welsh Legal Affairs is part of the Department of Law and Criminology at Aberystwyth University.

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