Monmouth AM’s call to new health minister (From South Wales Argus)

Monmouth AM’s call to new health minister

6:20pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News

A GWENT Assembly Member has called on the new health minister to tackle problems with the county’s health services.

According to Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay, urgent action is needed to tackle poor ambulance response times and other concerns.

His comments came after last week’s Welsh Government cabinet reshuffle, which saw Mark Drakeford replace Lesley Griffiths as health minister.

Mr Ramsay accused the Welsh Government of failing to protect the health budget “in real terms as has happened in England”.

“Especially urgent action is needed over our poor ambulance response times and the refusal of the Welsh Government to allow access to some cancer drugs via a cancer drugs fund that is available in England,” he said.

“These problems have gone on too long, and I hope the new minister acts quickly.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said Mr Drakeford will now be looking in detail at the wide range of issues in his porfolio so he can “take forward work to ensure theNHSin Wales is on a sound footing.”