Madam,

With an election looming, I was unsurprised that the Lib Dems thought to criticise Plaid Cymru health and social care policy in your paper (last week’s editions). However, I was surprised that they chose to back the status quo and the Hywel Dda Health Board rather than Plaid’s policy to fully integrate health and social care at a local level. In truth, I am disappointed that the Lib Dems prefer a Dyfed health model rather than a Ceredigion local one. It is not my intention or my style to rubbish another party’s health plans. I’d prefer to outline our own proposals. Plaid Cymru policy is to get rid of all barriers between health and social care – organisational and budgetary. We will not allow a system to continue that sees a patient caught in turf wars between a local authority and a health board. Finally, we’d remove all administrative boundaries to access to hospital services, and ensure local management of local hospitals.

Yours etc

Elin Jones, Plaid Cymru, 32 Pier Street, Aberystwyth