SWANSEA’S COMMUNITY Health Council (CHC), that acts as a public watchdog on local health issues, has voted for a second time against plans to shut Fairwood hospital and ward 1 at Hill House.
These cuts by the Local Health Board and Swansea NHS Trust are part of a package to get rid of a £12 million deficit built up over years of mismanagement. UNISON, Swansea council, the Royal College of Nursing, the CHC and thousands of signatures on our Socialist Party petitions show the overwhelming opposition to these cuts.
Staff at the two hospitals congratulated Socialist Party members for their help in the campaign.
They now intend to take their fight to the Welsh Assembly Government where New Labour health minister, Brian Gibbons, will make the final decision.
A protest and lobby is planned in the near future.
Swansea Trades Council also decided to hold a public meeting in January to keep up the pressure on the Assembly to stop these cuts.
