'Week dominated by listening to and actioning, residents’ pressing concerns about deteriorating healthcare provision'

As a nurse myself who returned to front line at the Maelor during the pandemic, I have seen first-hand how hard the our doctors, nurses and healthcare staff work.

However, they are being let down by failing systems and Wrexham residents are being let down. Staff and patients deserve better, and as Wrexham’s voice, I will keep fighting for better healthcare.

As health is devolved, and the Welsh Government have refused to conduct an inquiry into healthcare failings in North Wales. As such I met with the Number 10 policy team to discuss potential ways forward.

I want to take this moment to say that my health campaign continues and if you have not done so already, please visit my website and sign my campaign to send the Welsh Government a message. Follow this link to do so: https://www.sarahatherton.org.uk/healthcare-wrexham.

Last week, ahead of the bank holiday weekend, I visited Spire Yale Hospital in Wrexham following their excellent report by the Health Inspectorate Wales (HIW). I am delighted to hear that they are investing £11m in Wrexham as part of their North Wales Healthcare Strategy.

Most worryingly, an alarmingly high number of constituents have been telling me that they are taking out loans to pay for private healthcare because of difficulties they are experiencing trying to access treatment on the NHS in Wales. I am also concerned about the rising number of constituents who have told me that they are moving across the border into England for better healthcare.

This month, I met with Audit Wales, amongst other North Wales MPs, as part of a series of meeting with scrutiny and inspectorate bodies. It was a productive meeting where we raised constituent cases. I continue to receive daily accounts from dissatisfied Wrexham constituents concerning GP access, ambulance waiting times, treatment delays and A&E service delivery.

Last week, the Welsh Government Health Minister, Eluned Morgan, announced a cash injection for NHS Wales of more than £1bn over the next 5 years. While this funding is welcome, I wrote to the health minister to ask a) how much of that £1bn is going to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) and b) if the money is ringfenced for a certain purpose. It is essential that the Welsh Government spend this money fairly, instead of continuing to concentrate on South Wales. In fact the £1bn funding from the Welsh Government, seems minimal in comparison to the extra £2.5 billion that the UK Government has given to Welsh Government this year to support the NHS in Wales.

I will continue to lobby the Welsh Government to establish a minor injury and walk-in unit in Wrexham to relieve the GP service and A&E services.

Finally, as a veteran myself, I am passionate that Welsh veterans have the same access to healthcare provisions as veterans across the border in England. Too often, there are vast disparities between healthcare access for English and Welsh veterans, which is unacceptable. Charities such as Care After Combat (CAC) are essential as they work closely with veterans in HMP Berwyn in Wrexham to ensure that Veterans receive thorough post-service care even within the criminal justice system. Having attended the launch of CAC impact report and spoken about our mutual engagement with veterans in HMP Berwyn, I am extremely pleased with the work they are doing.

As always, if you are resident in Wrexham and need my assistance with any local or national issue, please contact me by emailing sarah.atherton.mp@parliament.uk.