During his first speech back in the House of Commons last Wednesday, Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies thanked all those who voted for him, paid tribute to his predecessor, Chris Ruane, and raised concerns about the NHS in North Wales.
Speaking in the Health and Social Care debate on the Queen’s Speech, James said “it is a privilege to be back here again representing my home constituency of the Vale of Clwyd following an unwelcome and enforced couple of years away” and promised to work hard for people whether they voted for him or not.
He also spoke about “a systemic failure in the North Wales NHS” and vowed to highlight issues affecting patients in his constituency in future debates, having been “inundated” with NHS issues since his re-election.
He said:
“I must start by placing on record my true thanks to all my constituents who voted for me, many of whom voted for my party for the first time ever. It is my ambition to live up to their hopes and aspirations, as well as to the hopes and aspirations of everybody else who did not vote for me. As I did in 2015, I pay tribute to my predecessor, Chris Ruane, who was well respected and represented the constituency very ably for more than 20 years in total.
“On the doorsteps in November and December, there was no bigger domestic issue than health. I must declare an interest, as I am an NHS doctor and I am also married to an NHS nurse. Between 2017 and 2019, I worked full-time as a GP in my constituency in Rhyl and in other parts of north-east Wales and west Cheshire. This has given me a unique insight into the state of the NHS in North Wales and further afield.
“Health matters were transferred to Cardiff, almost in their entirety, 20 years ago. That includes the organisation, structure and basic terms of functioning of the NHS. The reality, though, is that there is still much confusion among the electorate about where powers lie...
“The North Wales Health Board - Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board - has been in special measures for more than four and a half years, which my constituents and I find totally unacceptable. As yet, there is still no evidence of a turnaround, and my constituents are being let down by a systemic failure in the north Wales NHS”.
