CAMPAIGNERS for better healthcare in Blaenau Ffestiniog have accused the health minister of being too “frightened” to meet with them to discuss the needs of the community.

Health minister Mark Drakeford recently visited Blaenau Ffestiniog to see how plans are moving forward on the town’s new health centre.

In December 2015, the minister approved a £3.9m Welsh government investment in the new centre, which is being built on the site of Blaenau Memorial Hospital.

However, local campaigners are angry that the plans do not include hospital beds.

The Memorial Hospital Defence Committee has criticised the minister for not meeting with patients, saying he has previously refused four written invitations to visit the area and discuss the healthcare needs.

They say he also made no effort to meet with them on his visit last Thursday.

Geraint Vaughan Jones from the committee has challenged the minister’s statement that the new centre will provide a range of appropriate community-based services reflecting the clinical needs of patients.

Mr Jones said: “This was a farce, given that Mr Drakeford would not meet patients to discuss their needs.”

The minister also said that the Welsh Government is committed to moving health services out of large acute hospitals and into primary care facil­ities closer to people’s homes.

But this statement was criticised by healthcare management consultant Tom Brooks.

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