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Rest of Wales short-changed in hospital investment compared to south-east, Conservatives say

28 Jun 2021 3 minute read
Royal Gwent Hospital Newport. Picture by Rwendland (CC0 1.0).

Health boards in the rest of Wales are short-changed in terms of hospital investment compared to those in the south-east of the country, according to the Welsh Conservatives.

The Welsh Government’s own figures reveal that capital investment in health boards such as Betsi Cadwaladr and Hywel Dda are significantly lower than other health boards in the country, the Tories said.

Capital spend per head in health boards in the south-east of the country during the same period is higher than in the more rural south-west, mid-Wales and the north.

In Aneurin Bevan Health Board, £788.70 had been spent per head, com[ared with only £199.85 in Powys.

The figures emerged in a Written Question (attached) by Welsh Conservative shadow minister for North Wales, Darren Millar MS.

Calling on the Labour Government to level-up funding in the NHS across Wales, Welsh Conservative shadow health minister, Russell George MS said the “urban-rural, north-south divide ” was “reflected starkly in these figures”.

“After years of mismanagement and underinvestment by Labour, we know that hospital estates right across Wales are in desperate need of improving and upgrading, but these issues are just as likely to affect hospitals in Wrexham and West Wales, as they are medical facilities in the South.

“Sadly, these figures show two things: rural and North Wales medical facilities are being left behind, with investment being directed elsewhere.

“Labour ministers need to urgently level-up funding and investment in our health service and ensure hospitals right across Wales receive their fair share of funding so we can provide the 21st century facilities our patients, staff and treasured service deserve.”

‘Appalling’

The capital spend figure in health boards in the south-east of Wales was as follows:

  • Swansea Bay – £510.55
  • Cardiff and Vale – £582.07
  • Aneurin Bevan – £788.70
  • Cwm Taf Morgannwg – £372.91

This compared very favourably with spend elsewhere in the country:

  • Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board – £344.62
  • Hywel Dda – £363.62
  • Powys – £199.85.

The figures emerged in a Written Question (attached) by Welsh Conservative shadow minister for North Wales, Darren Millar MS.

“These figures are appalling and show North Wales’ residents are not getting the investment they deserve,” he said.

“There’s a huge disparity in capital spending in our NHS across the country and this news is a further kick in the teeth to the people of North Wales given that the spend per head in the region is less than half of that in other parts of the country.

“Time and time again, Labour prioritises its heartlands in the South whilst ignoring the North, and despite the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board being in special measures for most of this period, we’ve still not received our fair share of investment.

“Communities and NHS facilities in North Wales have been desperately short-changed to the tune of nearly £100 million by Labour ministers in Cardiff Bay.

“This needs to be rectified and money distributed fairly so hospitals in North Wales can provide first-class care in first-class facilities.”


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Quornby
Quornby
3 years ago

Meanwhile in other news the whole of Wales is short changed by Tory indulgence of London and the South East of England. Nothing changes or ever will without independence.

Mark
Mark
3 years ago
Reply to  Quornby

and your tory brand of democracy is absolutely corrupt,

Chris
Chris
3 years ago

Rest of Britain short changed in everything compared to tory investment in South East England, everyone says

hdavies15
hdavies15
3 years ago

There is an acute imbalance between spending in S.E Wales ( Greater Cardiff) and the rest of the country. Not just hospital investment but the entire mix of infrastructure and services. This mirrors the similar imbalance between London and much of the S.E England compared to the rest of the U.K. Despite all the b.s about levelling up I see no real indicators that it is not much more than the usual Boris platitudes.

j humphrys
j humphrys
3 years ago
Reply to  hdavies15

Well, Hancock had sure been working away at something!

David
David
3 years ago

I would like to know over what period this is for and how it compares to previous periods. It could be (not saying it will be) that the previous periods show a reverse of this.

j humphrys
j humphrys
3 years ago

Brexit UK Gov.. How much was the NHS going to get, again? The big red BS!

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
3 years ago
Reply to  j humphrys

Boris and co. didn’t say the NHS WAS going to get £350m a week, only that it COULD.
Just like making a pact with the devil. Boris can star in the next version of Bedazzled; though he’d need a bit of a makeover to look suave and sophisticated!

Cat
Cat
3 years ago

You can demonstrate anything with statistics.

Does this take into account that any of us on the borders (e.g. Powys) go to England for Acute care as we don’t have too many people per acre and no large acute hospital?

Does it include the cost of new hospital builds in the South which will distort number?

A link to the data and the time period under consideration would help please. Without facts and data sources, Russell could prove anything true and frequently does!

chamel
3 years ago

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David Llewellyn Davies
David Llewellyn Davies
3 years ago

Does population of these areas being compared have anything to do with it

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