A RECENTLY-ELECTED politician has criticised Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board and suggested its treatment of patients in north Meirionnydd “beggars belief”.

Neil Hamilton, Mid and West Wales region Assembly Member, visited Blaenau Ffestiniog to familiarise himself with the plans for the reconstruction of the Memorial Hospital.

The UKIP politician, accompanied by his wife and personal assistant Christine, visited the hospital site and met with members of the Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital Defence Committee, a community action group who are desperate to re-establish inpatient beds and other services in the region.

On his first viewing of the building, Mr Hamilton said that he “respected and valued” memorial buildings and he hoped that the new construction would “reflect the values of Sir Clough Williams-Ellis who had designed the original”.

When the defence committee explained the situation to the Mr Hamilton he expressed surprise that Betsi Cadwaladr did not currently plan to equip the new hospital building with the standard facilities usually present in rural healthcare complexes­.

Expressing his commitment to helping his constituents, Mr Hamilton promised to explore the issue with ministers in the Senedd when the Assembly reconvenes and to support the community in its campaign for the restoration of healthcare services.

In response, a spokesperson for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said: “Work on the new integrated health and social care centre in Blaenau, ‘Canolfan Goffa Ffestiniog’, is progressing well."

See the full story in this week’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News