Penyrheol Surgery
I’ve been pursuing the Aneurin Bevan Health Board to find a more suitable site for the area’s surgery and GP chemist.
The converted former Co-op building, where they are currently housed, is not appropriate for the 21st century – even though both the surgery and chemist provide an excellent service.
This was an issue my late Plaid ward colleague Anne Collins felt passionate about and Steve Skivens, who chairs the community council, also feels strongly that Penyrheol needs new premises.
I know things are tight in the health service, as they are for everyone in this time of austerity, but we are continuing to press the issue and I was in touch recently with a senior official at the health board.
Those who operate the surgery and chemists support the idea of new premises. It’s a question of finding a suitable site and then building it but, I believe, there is land in the heart of the community which would be suitable.
Social Services Bill
I’ll be tabling amendments to the proposed Social Services and Well-Being Bill in the National Assembly.
I’m campaigning for a ban on smacking – something that has already happened in 17 EU states. Barnardo’s and the NSPCC, organisations which work closely with children support the removal of the “reasonable punishment” defence. Adults should not be allowed to use that as a defence.
Also, I believe the Bill does not create sufficiently strong duties for authorities to work together. The integration of health and social services should be mandatory.
Cuts Protest
I spoke on behalf of Plaid Cymru at a recent protest by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) outside the Senedd.
This was organised in the wake of more cuts in public spending announced by the out-of-touch Chancellor of the Exchequer. This will inevitably mean more job losses across Wales and damage to the economy. There does not seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel.
Plaid believes there is an alternative to austerity and the attacks on the vulnerable through measures like the so-called ‘bedroom tax’ which the UK Labour Party has refused to commit to scrapping.
Lindsay Whittle
Plaid Cymru AM South Wales East
Mr Whittle. Whilst I strongly support you in most aspects of your campaigning, I have to question the need for relocating the GP surgery and pharmacy in Penyrheol. Granted, it is not the most modern of buildings, but it could be a darn sight worse! The location at the moment is one that can be accessed by many patients and customers, a lot of whom are wheelchair bound, due to the ease of access with it being on flat ground. It is due to this reason that elderly patients from nearby Ty Isaf bungalows are able to use the services too. I appreciate that, all too often, there is a need to ''move with the times'' as it were, but given the current economic climate, I personally feel the money spent on a new build could be put to better use by keeping the practice where it is and simply upgrading the building at a much lesser cost to our already struggling council. I often see one or two residents taking a long, slow walk from Pleasant Place to collect a prescription, happy that they are able to maintain a small amount of independence. It will be these, less able bodied people, who will suffer if the amenities were to move further away. Thank you for reading.