North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called for the Welsh Government to reconvene meetings of the North Wales Transport for Health Group.
Mr Isherwood is concerned that the group, to look at all patient and staff transport to healthcare provision in the region, has not met in over 12 months.
Raising the matter in the Assembly Chamber with the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates AM, he said:
“During my meetings this summer with Community Transport providers in Flintshire, they told me that, after they resisted pressure to take on some commercial routes, the Council had commissioned some pilot schemes from commercial providers that they felt would not be viable once the pilots ended. They also told me that the Welsh Government had set up Transport for Health Groups in each region of Wales, but the North Wales Transport for Health Group hadn’t met since May 2016, to look at all transport-to-healthcare provision in the region, and that the Welsh Government had not reconvened the meetings at that point. What action are you taking to address these concerns?”
The Cabinet Secretary said he would “happily reconvene the transport for health group as soon as possible, as soon as members are able to meet.”
He added: “I think it’s absolutely essential that we consult with as many stakeholders as possible as we design the next franchise, and make sure that communities across Wales are better connected. So, I give my undertaking to reconvene that particular group on behalf of the Member and with the Member.”
ENDS