Responding to the announcement that the threatened Accident and Emergency Department at the Royal Glamorgan hospital is to remain fully-operational, healthcare workers union, UNISON has praised the unified community campaign which brought local people, hospital staff, unions and politicians together.
Sarah Davies, Cwm Taf Morgannwg health branch chair, said,
“Saving the Royal Glamorgan A&E is a tremendous victory and shows what ‘people power’ can achieve. Hospital staff and their unions were supported by local residents in their many hundreds at demonstrations and local politicians.
“Like UNISON, they knew Emergency health services should be retained at the hospital, accessible to everyone.
“There’s no doubt the complete opposition of health care workers to the plans was significant. UNISON healthcare staff and ambulance workers campaigned vigorously to demonstrate the harm and risk to community health of service reduction, as well as the negative effect it would have on services at sister hospitals, Prince Charles Hospital and Princess of Wales Hospital.
“UNISON was adamant that the people of Cwm Taf Morgannwg deserve a world-class National Health Service and rather than reduce services or worsening access to emergency care, the health board needed to ensure safe staffing levels are in place not only in its emergency departments but throughout its hospitals.
“Local people have every right to be confident in their health services and that requires proper funding. Healthcare workers feel emotional and very grateful for the support they received.”
Angie Roberts, UNISON Welsh Ambulance Branch, branch secretary said,
“I am so pleased to hear another great campaign by UNISON activists in Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Branch area has succeeded and saved healthcare workers’ jobs and protected the local community from closure of a local service which is needed more now than ever”.
Contact
Alastair Gittins, UNISON press officer on 07816 53 83 97