Waiting Rooms

Son has done his arm in, sacrificed on the altar of the beautiful game - again.  This is what comes of not taking after his mother, preferring instead to ferret about in the biology cupboard for some sporty genes.  Last time this happened, I had to abandon the UK Shadow Minister of Agriculture and the Welsh Shadow Rural Affairs Minister on an official visit to Builth Wells, while I sat with him in A&E for what seemed like aeons, watching TV ads for crutch replacement services. I didn't realise they were offering double entendres on the NHS.

While we're sitting in the fracture clinic today, clocking up some more Hywel Dda Trust loyalty points, I can ponder on some other health news.  The first is the rumour that up to 16 further beds could be cut at the Princess of Wales hospital in Bridgend, some of which are used as overspill for A&E admissions.  As you may have gathered, A&E services are close to my heart, especially with the disappearance of minor injuries units in Powys - hence our 30 mile journey into another trust area every time Injury Boy decides to play lemming.  To think that bed closures are still being contemplated when senior managers are still being paid not to work after the trust mergers is enough to send everyone's blood pressure soaring.  And how much would that cost in free prescriptions?

The good news is that £1m has been confirmed for Breast Test Wales to replace its fleet of mobile screening units with seven new ones.  The present units are not accessible to anyone with mobility problems, as highlighted for me, when I was a parliamentary candidate, by the irrepressibly good-humoured Mrs Bradbury of Llangammarch Wells.  Llangammarch is one of the "deep rural" communities consulted in the recent-ish Rural Observatory report on standards of living and access to public services in rural Wales.  Mrs Bradbury's access to breast cancer screening services proved to non-existent when she was unable to climb the steps of the unit which visited Builth Wells, 12 miles from her home. Her mobility problem meant she can't sit for long enough to make the journey to Cardiff.  So tough.

That's why the investment in new units is such good news.  Women like Mrs Bradbury won't be discriminated against just because of where they live.  Old cynics like me, though, can't help notice that only 7 new units are promised, replacing a fleet of 10.  Perhaps these seven are in addition to another three. Or will there be fewer visits to existing locations, or even that fewer locations will be visited?  Will the lost Crickhowell visit be re-instated?  And when will we get to see these units?

Don't keep us waiting Edwina.