Madam,

Another day of Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister Carwyn Jones each claiming the other delivers the UK’s worse health service. What is indisputable is that Britain’s most primitive health service can be found in the Welsh uplands around Blaenau Ffestiniog. No Welsh Government official has been able to identify a more primitive healthcare service anywhere else.

Since Betsi Cadwaladr UHB decided to withdraw healthcare services from the Welsh uplands in January 2013, the scorecard reads: Branch surgeries – closed; X-ray services – withdrawn; Minor Injuries Unit – closed; Permanent full-time doctors – non-existent; hospital beds – scrapped; teledermatogy service – terminated; district nurses – struggling; ambulance service – overworked; therapies – limited; clinics – occasionally; patients – suffering.

Does the Welsh Government care? Prof Marcus Longley in his rural healthcare study report said that the Welsh uplands was the “most urgent” case he examined. Healthcare Inspectorate Wales visited in November and its damning report will be published soon. The Older People’s Commissioner is in the middle of an investigation. In a record community poll turnout for Wales of 52 per cent residents voted 1,688 to restore services with only five people voting No.

Health minister Mr Drakeford has refused five times to intervene and will not meet the area’s patients. Carwyn Jones has been invited to see for himself but has declined.

Yours etc

Tom Brooks

Glaneifion

Borth-y-gest

Porthmadog.