Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Senedd for Aberconwy, is urging Welsh Government to save St. David’s Hospice from closing four in-patient beds at HM Stanley Hospital in Holyhead.

Due to rising costs and decreased income, the hospice has announced a temporary closure of the beds from October. In a statement on the matter the charity’s CEO, Gareth Jones, explained that it is now economically unviable to continue operating all three hospice sites — despite their best efforts to mitigate these factors.

Mrs. Finch-Saunders emphasised the devastating impact the closure will have on residents in the North West of the region, urging urgent intervention from the Welsh Government to keep the beds open while a long-term strategy is developed.

“I have this morning submitted an Emergency Question to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Welsh Government. The Llywydd will now decide if I can raise the matter with the relevant minister in the Senedd before it closes for the summer.  

“St David’s Hospice is an incredible charity that provides the highest standard of care to individuals with life limiting conditions and their loves.

“The services at all three sites are needed. Temporary closure is not a feasible option.

“In the first instance, Welsh Government should assess urgently if they can intervene, at least in the short term, to keep the beds open whilst a strategy is developed with key partners to improve long term sustainability”.