Welsh Conservative Leader Calls on WAG to Fully Fund Hospital

Nick Bourne, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Assembly Member for Mid & West Wales, has called on the Labour/Plaid Cymru coalition government to ensure the Children's Hospital for Wales is fully funded.

This follows the announcement by Cardiff Local Health Board that it could not afford to meet its £1.1 million share of the expected annual running costs.

Nick Bourne met today with representatives of the Noah's Ark Appeal which has raised £10 million towards the unit to discuss the crisis.

Following that meeting Nick Bourne said:

"The Welsh Conservative Party is committed to fully funding the Children's Hospital for Wales.

This excellent project must not be downgraded in any way to save money. Scotland has four children's hospitals. Wales needs and deserves an excellent children's hospital too.

I totally share the sense of anger and dismay felt by the representatives of the Noah's Ark Appeal, who have done so much to raise money for this project, at the decision of Cardiff Local Health Board not to pay its share of the costs.

It is imperative that the Assembly Government steps in and fills the funding gap to ensure this worthwhile project remains viable."