We need to be vigilant to eastwards drift of services
LAST week it came to light that disabled people or those with long term illhealth are having to travel long distances out of Gwynedd to be assessed for the Personal Independence Payment.
Thanks to a swift and concerted campaign by my Plaid Cymru colleagues at Westminster, Hywel Williams MP and Liz Saville Roberts MP, a temporary solution has been found and they are now pressing for a permanent assessment centre to be re-opened in Bangor.
The previous centre at Parc Menai near Bangor was closed before Christmas.
But this did not come to light until claimants started to get in touch with the MPs.
It became evident that people in very vulnerable situations from all parts of Gwynedd were having to go to Rhyl or Aberystwyth for their assessments.
The Personal independence Payment is replacing the Disability Allowance for people aged 16 to 64.
As it is rolled out, the Department of Work and Pensions has contracted Capita to carry out the PIP assessments.
The assessment process can in itself be very stressful.
On top of that, imagine having to travel on a bus from Pwllheli to Rhyl for an assessment.
The situation was outrageous and I’m glad that our two MPs have forced a u-turn from the DWP.
A permanent centre needs to be set up urgently and some of our most vulnerable constituents need to be treated with dignity and respect.
This episode illustrates a general point. It shows how vigilant we need to be to the eastwards drift of services in the name of ‘centralisation.’
It is a mistake to think that Rhyl is the mid-point for north Wales.
It is not.
It may be the midpoint along the north Wales coast but a large part of north Wales exists to the west of Bangor! Indeed when one looks at the whole of north Wales, Bangor is more central than Rhyl.
Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board needs reminding of this when they talk about ‘centralisation’ of services.
We need to be very vigilant of the moves that may be afoot by the Board.
I fear that the eastwards drift of services is continuing, despite our protestations. It is happening right under our noses and that is not right!
I am preparing a report to evidence what is happening and I would be very grateful if Herald readers who can evidence the moving of services from Ysbyty Gwynedd could get in touch with me with their stories.
You can contact me on sian. Gwenllian@Cynulliad.Cymru. Diolch yn fawr.