Liberal Democrat AM Writes to Health Minister

Welsh Liberal Democrat  and Assembly Member for Cardiff Central, Jenny Randerson, demonstrates her support for the Children's Hospital for Wales and outlines solutions to the funding uncertainties jeopardising the hospital's future in a letter to Health Minister, Edwina Hart.

Edwina Hart AM,
Health Minister,
The National Assembly for Wales,
Cardiff Bay,
CF99 1NA

26th July, 2007

Dear Edwina,

I would like to raise with you several issues relating to the funding of healthcare in Cardiff.

Cardiff Local Health Board have recently presented me with figures which show that the GMS per capita funding for Cardiff is £128.43 compared with £136.86 for Rhondda Cynon Taff and £140.12 for Bridgend. This in itself obviously presents them with significant challenges. Cardiff also faces particular concentrations of problems such as the drift of homeless people to the capital city and the drift of those with drug addiction issues as well as those with poor mental health. There are a host of reasons why this is so which I would be happy to discuss with you. In addition you will be aware that Cardiff has the largest ethnic minority population in Wales, with some specific additional health problems and needs. The routing of asylum seekers via Cardiff under the new system is likely to exacerbate this situation.

Making a difficult situation even worse is the fundamental problem with the undercounting of Cardiff’s population in the last census which was only partly resolved. The student population is one of the reasons for this undercounting and they present their own health challenges. Since the census, it is generally accepted that Cardiff’s population has grown by 5,000 but that is not reflected in the funding.

In addition there are the 80,000 people per day who come to Cardiff for work and leisure. Many of them need medical attention while they are here.

You will be aware that Cardiff health funding has not reached the Townsend Formula target and is unlikely to make progress towards it now that Assembly funding is much tighter that it was when the formula was introduced. I always felt that the formula did not give sufficient weight to the specific health challenges faced by Cardiff. I know that Cardiff LHB has always held a similar view.

In the face of the significant challenges it is clear that Cardiff LHB is being forced to make funding decisions which are clearly not inline with Welsh Assembly Government Policy. Cutbacks in funding for certain primary care services are one example which is out of line with ‘Design for Life’. The recent LHB decision not to support the further development of the Children’s Hospital on financial grounds is another. The Welsh Assembly Government has after all given a firm commitment to Phase 2. In the light of this I believe the best way forward is for you to fund it via Health Commission Wales.

I realise that changing the funding formula is no easy matter, but I would like the opportunity to meet you to discuss these issues. In the short term it would give some relief to Cardiff LHB if they were able to defer repayment of their outstanding loan deficit.

I look forward to the opportunity to discuss these issues. I am in Cardiff until 11th August and then later in the month.

Yours sincerely,



JENNY RANDERSON
Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for Cardiff Central