Ynys Môn MP is promoted to junior ministerial role
HEALTH DEPT APPOINTMENT FOR VIRGINIA CROSBIE ... BUT CRITICS FEAR HER UK-WIDE FOCUS WILL BE AT EXPENSE OF WALES AND HER CONSTITUENTS
ANORTH Wales MP has been promoted to a junior ministerial role within the health department, defending herself against criticism the issue is largely devolved to Cardiff Bay.
Virginia Crosbie has been appointed a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) within the Department of Health and Social Care, the department responsible for government policy on health and adult social care matters in England.
PPSs are unpaid assistants to ministers, but the role is often considered as the first rung on the ladder towards ministerial office.
Following her appointment, just three months after first being elected to Parliament as the member for Ynys Môn, the Conservative MP tweeted: “Honoured to have been appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to support Matt Hancock (the Secretary of State) and Ministers in the Department of Health and Social Care. I am hoping to use my background in healthcare to help improve outcomes for patients across the UK.”
But since devolution, health and social care has been primarily the responsibility of ministers in Cardiff Bay, meaning most health decisions made at Westminster relate to England only.
This has led to criticism from some, with one MP claiming she’s shown “a shocking lack of knowledge about how the NHS in Wales works.”
“Ms Crosbie is either showing a shocking lack of knowledge about how the NHS in Wales works, or is alluding to a power grab by Westminster the likes of which we have never seen,” Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards told the nation.cymru website.
“Management of the
Health Service has been devolved to Wales for decades; Westminster does not and cannot control the Welsh NHS.
“When she talks of rolling out the Westminster Government’s NHS policies across ‘the whole country’ she simply cannot be talking about Wales.
“Either way, Ms Crosbie won’t be doing much for Wales or her constituents in this role.”
But Ms Crosbie, a microbiology graduate who previously worked as a pharmaceutical research analyst at director level, has defended the decision, saying she would be supporting UK Government ministers to improve the health of the UK as a whole.
“The Welsh people overwhelmingly rejected Plaid’s nationalist agenda in Wales, by electing several new Conservative MPs especially in North Wales,” she said.
“And I regularly hear from my Ynys Môn constituents just how badly they feel they have been failed by Labour’s handling of the NHS.
“So, I’m proud to be speaking up for my constituents at every possible opportunity while also supporting UK government ministers to improve the health of the nation.
“This Conservative government is putting record amounts into the health services it has responsibility for.
“I hope the Welsh Government can learn from what the Conservatives are doing and also see fit to deliver on the people’s priorities – and I will not shy away from urging the Welsh Government to do so.”
On the specifics of her role, she added: “This appointment will give me a real in-depth understanding of the workings of our precious National Health Service and enable me to use my knowledge and experience of working in healthcare to help improve outcomes for patients.
“I will use my prior experience and knowledge working in the sector to continue this Government’s vital work in enhancing outcomes for patients across the UK.”