Dodds launches petition for Mid Wales care centre

As the row over the Shropshire health service rumbles on a petition has been launched for an urgent care centre to be opened in Mid Wales. 

Jane Dodds, the Liberal Democrat Welsh Assembly candidate for Montgomeryshire, said it was vital the Welsh Assembly opens a centre in Mid Wales

She said it would alleviate pressure on local GPs and remove the need to travel to Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth for treatment.

She also joined calls for A&E services to remain in Shrewsbury under the NHS Future Fit scheme, which could see them based solely in Telford.

Ms Dodds said: “I’m very pleased with the decision to keep the Shrewsbury site as a functioning hospital, but it’s also desperately important that accident and emergency services remain there to serve residents of Mid Wales.

“It is also positive to see the further adoption of urgent care centres across Shropshire.

“So far they have proven to be very successful and I will continue to petition the Labour Welsh Government to provide funding for a similar centre here in Montgomeryshire."

Last week, it was revealed that one of the area’s two casualty units will close during the next decade. A meeting of health executives decided that a new emergency centre would be created at either Telford or Shrewsbury, ruling out a third option of building a new site between the two towns.

• To sign Jane Dodds’ petition, visit: www.montlibdems.org.uk/umc

Last week Montgomeryshire AM, Russell George, also launched a health survey to gain an insight into the care of patients and residents in Montgomeryshire.

It looks into the preferences for the A&E service as well as times and opinions on local health services in north Powys.