Health care in Powys 2009/2010 (Kirsty Williams AM )

Cymraeg
English

Kirsty Williams AM <info@kirstywilliams.org.uk>

Health care in Powys 2009/2010

January 8, 2010 12:01 AM
By Kirsty Williams AM in Mid Wales Journal Friday 1st January 2010

2009 has at long last brought some much needed triumphs for our Powys health service. We have seen the announcement of a rural health plan which will ensure that the very particular needs of Powys patients are addressed by the Welsh Government. We successfully lobbied the Minister to keep the two separate Montgomeryshire and Brecon and Radnorshire CHCs in Powys under the new NHS structure. Following ongoing delays in ambulance response times we are seeing the establishment of a WAG-Ambulance Trust group to specifically focus on how the emergency response times in Powys can be improved. We have had confirmation of proposals to merge Powys Local Health Board with Powys County Council, which is great news for patients who will benefit from greater efficiencies, collaboration and joined up service provision between social services and the LHB. Following a forceful campaign, whereby Mr Chapman and I lobbied the Welsh Government and presented a 730 strong petition to the Minister, we are finally to see the sighting a desperately needed new kidney dialysis unit in Llandrindod Wells. But despite these very welcome improvements there still remains much to be done. One of my greatest hopes for 2010 is that we will see a regular Tenovus mobile cancer unit in the county. The Bracken Trust is carrying out outstanding work in Llandrindod Wells, supporting and helping cancer patients and their relatives but with 1 in 3 of us facing the terrible battle with cancer during our lifetime, they too need support in the work they are doing.

Thanks to dedicated research many forms of the disease are now more treatable and patients can make full recoveries. But those of us who have had cancer or who know friends or relatives who have, know all too well, the road to recovery can be a very difficult one. Chemotherapy can be a highly effective treatment, but can also cause side effects such as nausea and fatigue. For many Powys patients, these symptoms are worsened by the difficulty of travelling long distances for treatment. Between 2003 and 2007, 671 Powys residents needed chemotherapy, only 7 of whom got it in county. Ill Patients are forced to undertake arduous journeys as far as Aberystwyth, Hereford, Cardiff or Swansea. The average journey length for Powys residents was a 75mile round trip, but some patients were travelling over 100 miles.

This year, the cancer charity Tenovus launched their new Mobile Cancer Support Unit. The bus provides treatment and support to patients closer to their homes. Presently, the Mobile Unit visits various locations in the South Wales Valleys, working in partnership with the NHS to give patients their chemotherapy in comfortable, non threatening conditions. There is also the chance to get advice on living with cancer, including counselling, wig fitting and benefits advice, with support for Carers as well.

I have met with Tenovus on several occasions to discuss having a similar service here in Powys and I am lobbying local health officials and the Health Minister to bring cancer treatment closer to Powys patient's homes; to at least ease some of the pressure on them at such a difficult time. In the New Year we will be organising an open day in Brecon, with the mobile cancer unit on display so that members of the pubic can come and see first hand the wonderful service that it offers. So keep an eye out for more details of the open day and how you can support the campaign for the mobile cancer unit in Powys.