The local Member of the Senedd for Vale of Clwyd, Gareth Davies, has called for the resignation or the sacking of Welsh Health Minister, Eluned Morgan.
It was announced recently that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has been took back into special measures by the Welsh Government, meaning that the board is under direct control of the Government.
Four weeks ago, the Chair of the Board, Mark Polin, along with his independent board members were directly forced to resign by the Health Minister and replaced with new board members in an effort to turn around the fortunes of Betsi Cadwaladr which includes Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan.
In a passionate debate on the confidence of the Health Minister in the Senedd, Gareth Davies said, "the Vale of Clwyd is more than a constituency to me as I have lived in Rhyl, Prestatyn, and Denbigh all of my life, and was born in St Asaph, I deeply care about the issues that affect my people including the performance of the local Health Board."
Mr Davies went onto say, "when I have bought issues affecting local people to the Senedd, I believe my issues have been belittled and patronised by the Health Minister when trying to discuss important issues affecting my constituents."
In the passionate debate Mr Davies added, "the number one pledge I had on my election leaflets and on the campaign (for the Senedd elections) my number one priority was that I will hold the Welsh Government to account over some of the failures of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, and have tried to project these issues in the Senedd to the best of my ability."
Mr Davies who worked in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board for eleven years (2010-21) added, "I went into politics as I believe that the transferable skills I acquired in working on the frontline of the NHS could help change things and influence decisions that are made in Cardiff Bay. I don't believe the Health Minister has took her role seriously in the two years she has been in post and call on the First Minister, Mark Drakeford to do the right thing by the people of North Wales and replace the Health Minister with someone who is competent to do the job."
Eluned Morgan survived the vote of confidence by 29 votes to 26 in the Senedd, speaking after the vote Mr Davies concluded, I'm aware the Health Minister has survived the vote but I hope as a consolation that this drives a strong message directly to the heart of the Health Minister and the Welsh Government that they must 'up their game' and take the issues of local people seriously in the Senedd, and if she can't guarantee that she must resign or be sacked."
