MP AND AM EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR COUNCIL/LHB MERGER PROCESS

9.13.32am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 4th Aug 2009

Brecon & Radnorshires MP Roger Williams and AM Kirsty Williams have expressed their firm support for the current talks aimed at bringing the work of Powys County Council and the Powys Teaching Local Health Board (LHB) together, with the two politicians supporting the principle of merging the two organisations.

Commenting on the recent issuing of the report on a joint appraisal of the proposal, which recommends the Council and LHB pursue a merger to create one organisation, Roger Williams said:

This could be the most important development of public service delivery in Powys for many decades and an innovative solution to the serious problems that both the Council and LHB face in sustaining services at a time when public spending is bound to face a tight squeeze. Sustaining good quality services in Powys is especially difficult, because its sparse population is dispersed across a vast rural area. So it is imperative that the most efficient and cost-effective ways are found to manage those services and this merger in principle would provide great opportunities to improve health and social care delivery in particular.

Kirsty Williams added:

Those people and politicians who are opposed to this process need to recognise the scale of the challenges the Council and LHB face. I do not believe that it will be possible to sustain vital, good quality health and social care services in Powys unless a means is found to enable the Council and LHB to work much more closely together, including jointly managing service budgets and staff. This could save a lot of money and should provide better and more cost-effective services. Both Roger and I are determined to work positively in support of this process and will engage fully in any consultation processes that occur.