No Improvement In A&E Despite Labour's Pledges Of Action

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 12th Apr 2005

Doctors and nurses working in Accident and Emergency departments in Wales are still under a tremendous strain, despite pledges from First Minister and Health Minister to address the situation.

On a recent visit to A&E at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff staff told Mike German, Assembly leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, that the situation had not improved noticeably since January when it was widely reported to be in crisis.

At First Minister's Questions, Mr German said: "I visited the A&E department at UW Cardiff over the recess and spoke to the staff and managers. They told me that little or nothing had changed despite your pledges of action earlier in the year. On a day-to-day basis they still feel under enormous pressure. Ambulances are still waiting, patients are still sat on trolleys and the system is straining at the seams. Why has nothing changed?"

Later, Mr German added: "In January, after Rhodri Morgan conducted his 'mystery shopper' visits to A&E departments, he and Brian Gibbons promised to take action. But staff there will tell you that they are still working under enormous pressure and putting patients in situations that they believe are far from how they would like to be treated.

"We have highly skilled and conscientious people working in our hospitals. They deserve better than this."