THE HEALTH minister has been criticised for “passing the buck” on the loss of inpatient hospital beds in Blaenau Ffestiniog.

The criticism came shortly after the National Assembly’s Petitions Committee wrote to the Ffestiniog Hospital Defence Committee and told them “your petition remains open”.

Restoration of inpatient beds, minor injuries cover and an X-ray unit at Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital are seen as by campaigners as “essential services if an acceptable level of healthcare provision is to be restored to the Welsh uplands”.

After 18 months of exchanging correspondence with the health minister Mark Drakeford, and the Betsi Cadwaladr health board, the committee say they remain dissatisfied with the responses.

In a final letter to the final petition committee of this Assembly term, Mr Drakeford wrote “the defence committee’s outstanding concerns need to be resolved locally with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board”.

The chair of the defence committee, Geraint Vaughan Jones said that “they had been engaged for four years in resolving matters with the Betsi board.

“The defence committee, together with Ffestiniog Town Council and Dolwyddelen Community Council, had met with the board chair and three other executives again as recently as 15 March, but had been offered only the continuation of the primitive healthcare service which has drawn such an avalanche of complaints”.

As the Assembly has now dissolved, Mr Drakeford was not available for comment.

During a recent visit to the site, he said: “The Welsh Government is committed to moving health services out of our large acute hospitals, and into primary care facilities closer to people’s homes.

“The £3.9m we are providing to create the new centre is a clear demonstration of our commitment – which will deliver a centre capable of providing an expanded range of health services from one site, from paediatric services, palliative care, child and adult mental health services through to the latest telemedicine facilities.

“This is an important development as we look to invest in health services right across north Wales.”