Man begins hunger strike at assembly

The protest began on Monday morning

A south Wales father has gone on a hunger strike outside the Welsh Assembly in protest at a hospital's decision to cancel a vital operation on his son.

Stan Bowen, 67, from Swansea, took his place on the steps of Crickhowell House in Cardiff Bay at 0900 BST on Monday morning.

Mr Bowen: Will stay until someone listens

His 38-year-old son Peter Bowen has been in a coma for two years after being attacked in Swansea.

But two appointments to assess surgery to improve his quality of life have been cancelled due to a lack of funds.

Supported by his wife Margaret and his family, Mr Bowen has vowed to camp outside the assembly until he gets a response.

"I am going to stay here and I am also on hunger strike," he said.

"I am going to sleep outside this building for as long as it takes until someone listens to me."

He should be back in Wales having proper treatment or proper care in a long-term facility

Consultant Dr Tony Clarke

Mr Bowen's protest is directed at the Swansea NHS Trust - the family are hoping for an operation that will insert a pump to deliver medication directly to his spine.

The pump implantation programme, which also treats patients with strokes, MS, Parkinson's disease, is currently suspended because the trust does not have the money for the regular monitoring which follows the operations.

"We are trying to resolve the issue of the ongoing costs of inserting the pump," said the Swansea NHS Trust in a statement.

"We are talking to the health authorities to see is they can contribute more funding."

The Chief Executive of the Swansea NHS Trust said there were negotiations in place between the trust and the health authority.

A statement from Assembly Health Minister Jane Hutt said she was "concerned to hear about this distressing case" and that she had "great sympathy for the Bowens".

Peter Bowen has been in a coma for two years

"This is an issue for the trust and health authority to deal with and I have asked them to contact the family immediately."

The Bowens currently drive 100 miles to see Peter at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Disease in Bath every Sunday, but staff there think he could be better cared for in Wales.

"He has been here nearly two years, and the bulk of the time we have not been providing active treatment," said consultant Dr Tony Clarke.

"This is at a cost of nearly £500 a day, and where he should be back in Wales having proper treatment or proper care in a long-term facility that would enable friends and relatives to visit."