Sir,
Re. Tenby Cottage Hospital.
Who needs Alisdair Campbell to spin when we have a surplus of home grown talent?
I attended a meeting prior to Christmas at the Town Council Chamber, attended also by Christine Gwyther and Nick Ainger. Both gave their full support to the action committee, and committed themselves to pursuing a new unit with beds on site. Indeed, Christine Gwyther spoke in the National Assembly in May last: 'local residents believe as I do, that the new Tenby hospital should have beds on site etc.'
It was a great surprise therefore to read Ms. Gwyther's comments in the Assembly on Tuesday when she said: 'It will be a new and exciting model of provision. Do you share my commendation of your minister for introducing this new model of care to Tenby, for forging a true partnership with my community and for earning people's respect along the way?'
In Jane Hutt's (Health Minister) statement on the decision, she said: 'Let me make it clear, if it were not for the campaign which has been so ably led by local Assembly Member, Christine Gwyther, and Nick Ainger MP, the changes which these conditions will bring about would not have happened'.
1. Christine Gwyther and Nick Ainger did not lead any campaign - they only became involved late in the day after a public appeal.
2. The new and exciting model is a glorified health centre with no beds.
3. Christine Gwyther seems to have a misplaced sense of the meaning of partnership and the earning of respect if she thinks both of these can be achieved by reneging on commitments to the community she serves, and issuing forth with self serving nonsense as above.
4. We have still to learn where the private sector beds are to be made available. Anyone who has had reason to seek a place in a nursing home will know of the shortage of beds in the private sector. How the new set up will source beds in the immediate area remains a mystery.
Our politicians are concerned that they are held in low esteem, and post Hutton are still only one third as likely to be believed as the BBC, whom Hutton castigated. Can they really be surprised?
If a decision has been made based purely on the cheapest option, have the good grace to say so. Do not spout forth with lies, half truths and self congratulatory claptrap.
Ian Williams,
1 Scotsborough View,
Tenby.