Edwina needs to get her act together

Here we go again. 

“Politicians say they fear minor injury units at two Pembrokeshire hospitals set to temporarily close after Christmas will never reopen again.

Health services managers say nurses at Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals are needed to keep the accident and emergency unit at Withybush running.” (full story here)

This comes just a few weeks after the closure of the MIU at Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda for the exact same reason - to keep A&E at the Royal Glamorgan going.

There are worries over the Unit at Barry, and Chepstow hospital lost its Minor Injuries Unit last year, although the reason given in that case was lack of patents!

It really is an absolute disgrace that people in Wales are getting a second rate health service because of the inadequacies of the Labour Welsh Government. 

And that is what lies behind this.  Despite what the Tories want people to think this is not about money or the lack of it – it is about poor political judgement and bad management of a vital service.

Edwina needs to get her act together

The real education debate?

Matt Withers Wales on Sunday column today also touches on the subject of students failing to find a place at University, and refers to Blair’s target of 50% of young people going on to higher education.  He says

“there was always that nagging question of what would happen when there wasn’t any money left to pay for it. Now we know.”
But it is not just a question of money.  It should be about equipping people for the workplace, and about matching skills and knowledge to jobs, to what is actually needed.  It should be about valuing vocational qualifications equally rather than aiming for an arbitrary number of people with degrees and no hope of getting a job.

Yes education is important, but education comes in many forms.  Should we be encouraging quite so many to go to University to study degrees in subjects which have very little application in the real world?

Recent figures from UCAS show that of 88,000 potential university students enquiring about courses for 2012, only 900 asked about physics and considerably less about engineering.  The CBI has warned about the shortage of science and maths based skills.

We turn out more Primary school teachers than we know what to do with, whilst Secondary schools struggle to find quality science teachers across the spectrum.

We have a shortage of medical staff which results in services being cut – such as at the Special Care Baby Unit at the Royal Glamorgan.

Despite soothing words from then Health minister Edwina Hart the service has not been reinstated.

There is surely some serious debate to be had regarding education in general and Higher education in particular that goes beyond the tuition fees issue.  If only the Minister can get his head out of his backside long enough to realise there are problems.

One night in Wrexham

The story of the week this week - second only to the tale of escaped cows taking over a Tredegar street – has to be the unintentional meeting of Edwina Hart with MPs on the select committee on Welsh affairs.

As reported by David Cornock, “It was either an amazing coincidence or someone in Welsh politics has a mischievous sense of humour.”

Just in case anyone is unaware of the background a row broke out last week when it was revealed that that Ms Hart, Labour Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science Minister had refused to meet with the Commons Welsh Affairs committee. Members of the Welsh Affairs committee - all but two of whom represent constituencies in Wales - offered to travel to Cardiff Bay to meet her on September 15.  Apparently Ms Hart sent the committee a two-sentence response to their request which simply, and rather rudely, stated: “I will not be attending

In answer to an oral question in the Siambr on the 23^rd June she was equally scathing

Andrew R.T. Davies: Engagement with people is a vital plank for encouraging inward investment and competitiveness within the Welsh economy. Do you think that your letter to the Welsh Affairs Committee was therefore an appropriate answer to a committee from another place that was looking to help you with your ministerial responsibilities to attract more business into Wales? Could you explain why you feel unable to meet with that committee?

Edwina Hart: I am required to look very carefully at all invitations that I receive in respect of my portfolio. The Welsh Affairs Committee has also written to me about issues around broadband, and I am happily sending it written evidence on that, because it is a matter that needs to be dealt with jointly across the UK. However, the economy is my responsibility in Wales, and I think that I am capable of doing my job

So when she walked into the dining room of the Ramada hotel in Wrexham to find those very same committee members sat there she must have surely been looking out for Jeremy Beadle to appear.  No doubt some SPAD came in for some harsh words when she returned to the safety of the Bay Bubble.

The arrogance of this woman is quite astonishing.  In her previous incarnation as Minister for Health she refused to accept any responsibility for any of the multitudinous problems within the health service, despite making it very clear that she was in charge!  Now she is so confident in her own ability to rejuvenate the economy of Wales that she is unwilling to meet with MPs who presumably have the same aim in mind.

 For all our sakes let's hope she is as good as she thinks she is.