Wales: Hospital heartache

Is the National Assembly doing enough on health?

Should anyone wait two years for a cardiac consultation? More than 80,000 people in Wales wait more than six months for a hospital appointment. Is this good enough?

Bill Owen is 76 years old. He has persistent cardiac problems, and has already had two heart operations.

He is supposed to have regular check ups at the hospital but has been told he will have to wait two years for the initial consultation. Is this situation acceptable?

Longer waiting times

The National Assembly government's waiting times figures, released on Wednesday, offered no comfort to people like Bill.

They revealed that more than 80,000 people are waiting more than six months for a first hospital appointment.

Bill and his wife Carol are angry about the situation they find themselves in. Carol Owen told The Politics Show that she was afraid that something bad was going to happen to her husband while he waited for his appointment.

"We've sent letters to our local MP, to the Assembly and the hospital but we've been told that Bill will have to wait two years".

This isn't the only obstacle the couple have to overcome to get treatment for Bill's fragile health.

Like many of their friends and neighbours in rural West Wales they have a half hour car journey to get to their local GP. The journey by bus takes up to an hour.

Shortage of GPs and dentists

The British Medical Association said this week that the shortage of GPs in some parts of the country is now approaching meltdown.

Their figures suggest the level of vacancies is much higher than the Assembly government's statistics suggest.

And it's not only those who need a GP who face a long journey in parts of rural Wales.

At the beginning of January a new NHS dental practice opened in Carmarthen.

The Politics Show has learned that patients who can't pay - or don't want to pay - for their dental treatment are travelling up to 30 miles to see the dentist there. Some travel from Pembrokesire and North Carmarthenshire.

We want your views

The Politics Show Wales wants to hear of your experiences of the NHS in Wales - good and bad.

You can call us on 0845 3009010, or e-mail us below.

Or you can write to: The Politics Show, Rm 1060, BBC Wales, Llandaff, Cardiff. CF5 2YQ

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