Commenting on the news that a 96-year-old woman was stuck in Barry hospital for 15 months, despite being fit to leave after 11 months, due to care support being unavailable, Shadow Minister for Social Services echoed the words of the Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies in saying that,
“It is completely inhuman and unacceptable that a 96-year-old woman has been stuck in a hospital for 15 months due to care support being unavailable.
“The Labour Government have underfunded the NHS and care system in Wales, the only Government in the UK to ever cut an NHS budget, not once, but twice. Labour must urgently ensure they retain and recruit the appropriate number of staff and address this issue immediately.
"If Labour can get their act together with this, they will create a positive knock-on effect of freeing up hospital beds and relieving pressure on the NHS. Unfortunately, I have little confidence in Labour getting this right, the same Labour who continue to preside over the worst NHS waiting lists in the country, with 1-in-4 on a waiting list, and over 30,000 waiting longer than two years for treatment.”
Gareth Davies MS went onto say:-
“I have said time and time again that there is a recruitment crisis within the care sector in Wales, it is crucially important that we do everything to retain and recruit staff.
“People take carers for granted until the moment they need them. It continues to disappoint me that people don’t appreciate the sheer hard work and dedication of those working in the care sector.
“For so many people to be stuck in hospital, waiting to be discharged, in limbo and just not knowing when they can leave is unacceptable. The Labour Government need to get a grip on this crisis that they have created.”
