Labour politicians from Pembrokeshire have welcomed Health Minister Edwina Hart's announcement that Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trusts will get extra funding for new equipment to improve services for kidney patients.
Hospitals across Wales will be given a share of almost £33 million to buy new equipment and improve patient facilities.
Labour Assembly Member for Pembrokeshire JOYCE WATSON AM said:
"People with kidney disease are dependent on the quality of local facilities, so I am delighted at this extra investment."
Labour's Campaign Spokesperson for Preseli Pembrokeshire MARI REES added:
"Labour is the party of the NHS and this cash injection is part of our long term commitment to create a real health service for all, not just for those who can afford it."
Haverfordwest Castle Councillor Thomas Tudor said:
"Working in the NHS myself I see at first hand the difference first rate equipment can make, so I know how important this will be."
Across Wales new diagnostic equipment such as an MRI scanner, x-ray and endoscopy machines will be bought with the money along with providing teleconferencing equipment to link more hospitals across Wales to enable patients to benefit from telemedicine. Trusts will also be able to carry out minor building alterations and introduce further measures to reduce energy consumption.
Health Minister EDWINA HART said:
"The allocation of this £33 million will help the NHS deliver better services for patients, including access to diagnostic tests, such as scans.
"It will also help begin to achieve the aims of our Delivering Emergency Care Strategy by increasing the opportunities for patients to be diagnosed through the use of telemedicine, where a patient can present symptoms in one hospital and can be diagnosed by a senior consultant in another hospital through the use of technology to share test results, scans and face-to-face consultation.
"This money will also help us to improve services for kidney patients across Wales, including new equipment at Pembrokeshire and Derwen, Swansea, North West Wales, North East Wales and Cardiff and Vale NHS Trusts."
Joyce Watson AM (left) & Labour's Campaign Spokesperson for Preseli Pembrokeshire Mari Rees
