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| Carwyn Jones backs Hywel Dda Health Board plan to cancel winter ops | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| First Minister Carwyn Jones has backed a health board's plan to halt some non-urgent surgery at four major hospitals in mid and west Wales over the winter. | First Minister Carwyn Jones has backed a health board's plan to halt some non-urgent surgery at four major hospitals in mid and west Wales over the winter. |
| Hywel Dda Local Health Board said it would not carry out some elective orthopaedic operations like hip and knee replacements while it dealt with increased pressure on services. | Hywel Dda Local Health Board said it would not carry out some elective orthopaedic operations like hip and knee replacements while it dealt with increased pressure on services. |
| Mr Jones called the proposals sensible. | Mr Jones called the proposals sensible. |
| Hospitals in Carmarthen, Haverfordwest, Llanelli and Aberystwyth are affected. | Hospitals in Carmarthen, Haverfordwest, Llanelli and Aberystwyth are affected. |
| The health service union Unison has criticised the move saying it would result in longer delays for patients. | The health service union Unison has criticised the move saying it would result in longer delays for patients. |
| But Mr Jones faced close questioning from each of the three other party leaders at First Minister's Question Time on Tuesday at the Senedd. | But Mr Jones faced close questioning from each of the three other party leaders at First Minister's Question Time on Tuesday at the Senedd. |
| 'Planning ahead' | |
| They said it was unacceptable the health board was having to cut back on operations, meaning patients would face longer waiting times. | They said it was unacceptable the health board was having to cut back on operations, meaning patients would face longer waiting times. |
| Mr Jones said it was wrong to talk in terms of cancelled operations and said the other parties would be willing to risk a lack of capacity and last minute postponements. | Mr Jones said it was wrong to talk in terms of cancelled operations and said the other parties would be willing to risk a lack of capacity and last minute postponements. |
| He said the health board was doing "precisely" what opposition parties had been calling for. | |
| Mr Jones told Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood: "Hywel Dda is doing exactly what her party has called for - that is planning for winter pressures. | |
| "It is wholly wrong to say the health board is cancelling all non-urgent elective orthopaedic surgery. | |
| "Those who've been scheduled to have orthopaedic surgery will receive it, all cancer, urgent trauma and day surgery work will continue." | |
| Mr Jones said the health board was "planning ahead". | |
| But in response Ms Wood said Hywel Dda had a waiting time of 15 months for orthopaedic surgery and she told the first minister to "take responsibility" for NHS delays. |