A week after St. David's Hospice announced the temporary closure of four in-patient beds at Penrhos Stanley, Holyhead from October, concerns are mounting about the lack of progress.

Janet Finch-Saunders MS has written to the Welsh Government requesting emergency funding and a review of hospice funding across Wales.

With a growing need for palliative care in North Wales, the closure of the four in-patient beds is seen as an emergency situation by Mrs. Finch-Saunders.

Commenting after writing to the Cabinet Secretary, she said: “About 90% of people who die are estimated to need palliative care.

“From 2017 to 2021, 88.1% of people who died in Wales would have benefitted from such care, and if need stayed constant at 90%, between 2023 and 2048 the number of people with palliative care needs is estimated to increase by 25%.

“Clearly, increased demand and the importance of palliative care is unquestionable. Already, it is extraordinary that a population of over 300,000 people in Conwy, Gwynedd, and Ynys Môn are only served by 16 hospice beds: 12 in Llandudno and 4 in Holyhead.

“With our area’s older population, and estimated increasing demands for palliative care, a 25% reduction in provision in North West Wales is absurd.

“When considering the facts, it is genuinely shocking that the Welsh Government, a week on from the announced closure, has failed to come forward with at least a short term rescue package.

“This is an emergency, and should be treated as such by the Cabinet Secretary.”