On health (From Penarth Times)

On health

ONE can only hope that your headline (Penarth Times, January 13), regarding Jane Hutt's dismissal is a 'healthy new start'.

Her typical justification of what she has achieved stretched through several paragraphs.

On the same day as your publication reached the newsstands, the National Audit Office published a report finding disturbing inadequacies in the Welsh health system.

It underlined that more money is spent on health per head of population than in England, but waiting times for health appointments in Wales are significantly longer. The report summed up the Welsh Health Service as having no strategy, poor management and financial incompetence.

How can Jane Hutt claim that waiting times have become shorter? With admittedly a few exceptions, statistics show that waiting times have lengthened.

Belatedly new centres have opened, but only after many ward closures and also several hospitals have been closed.

The NHS dental service is close to collapse. People in Pembrokeshire are being told to travel to Port Talbot for treatment.

Lastly, what a big deal overseeing the freezing of prescription charges. I am sure this would not have required more than the stroke of a pen.

One can only hope that her successor will not constantly repeat the unbelievable that has been Jane Hutt's record as Health Minister for Wales.

G E Thomas

Gladstone Road

Barry