One of the pacts that we make with our politicians is that we are generally happy to pay higher taxes if we receive better public services in return.
With the tax burden increasing to a point where 41 per cent of the average income is paid to the government, it is only right to expect that critical areas such as our NHS receives the funding necessary for vital services.
Given this, many in Wales would have been surprised and disappointed at last week's decision by the Local Health Board in Cardiff to refuse funding for a second phase of the Children's Hospital for Wales. In isolation, that decision would have been bad enough, given that many of us with young families see the health of our sons and daughters as our primary priority and one that should be fully supported by our politicians.
However, the funds for the main bulk of the first phase of this vital service, including two 25-bed medical wards and one 16-bed paediatric cancer ward, has not come from our Assembly Government, but from the £10 million raised through the efforts of the Noah's Ark Appeal.
Quite rightly, the trustees of this excellent charity have reflected the views of many in voicing their disgust at this decision by bureaucrats who, as the guardians of public funds raised from taxation, seem unable to understand that the ill-health and treatment of sick children should be a clear priority that they should support.
As usual, these penpushers seem happy to use phrases such as 'challenging financial climate' as excuses when there is a clear demand for a purpose-built, world-class, child-friendly facility for many of our most vulnerable children.
Yet, whilst wards are being shut and vital patient services lost, we have seen the costs of managers and administrators spiral within our NHS in Wales.What is most depressing about this whole situation is the deafening silence from the members of the new Welsh Assembly Government.
When celebrities such as Catherine Zeta Jones, Charlotte Church and Michael Douglas were helping to raise money for the children's hospital, politicians were lining up to have their picture taken with the stars of stage and screen. Yet, when there is a call for support for this worthwhile cause, ministers are nowhere to be seen. They should hang their heads in shame at such inaction.
As a father of two young boys, nothing is more important to me than the health of my children. With health spending in Wales greater per head than in England, I unequivocally believe that not only should there be an immediate commitment by the new Assembly Government to fully fund the Children's Hospital in Cardiff but funds should also be made available to establish a similar operation here in North Wales.
Indeed, if our politicians cannot provide support to a special hospital that has been largely funded by the charitable efforts of others, how can we trust them to keep their promises to stop the reorganisation of hospitals across North Wales and ensure that our hard earned taxes go towards providing the vital health services needed in the region?
With the tax burden increasing to a point where 41 per cent of the average income is paid to the government, it is only right to expect that critical areas such as our NHS receives the funding necessary for vital services.
Given this, many in Wales would have been surprised and disappointed at last week's decision by the Local Health Board in Cardiff to refuse funding for a second phase of the Children's Hospital for Wales. In isolation, that decision would have been bad enough, given that many of us with young families see the health of our sons and daughters as our primary priority and one that should be fully supported by our politicians.
However, the funds for the main bulk of the first phase of this vital service, including two 25-bed medical wards and one 16-bed paediatric cancer ward, has not come from our Assembly Government, but from the £10 million raised through the efforts of the Noah's Ark Appeal.
Quite rightly, the trustees of this excellent charity have reflected the views of many in voicing their disgust at this decision by bureaucrats who, as the guardians of public funds raised from taxation, seem unable to understand that the ill-health and treatment of sick children should be a clear priority that they should support.
As usual, these penpushers seem happy to use phrases such as 'challenging financial climate' as excuses when there is a clear demand for a purpose-built, world-class, child-friendly facility for many of our most vulnerable children.
Yet, whilst wards are being shut and vital patient services lost, we have seen the costs of managers and administrators spiral within our NHS in Wales.What is most depressing about this whole situation is the deafening silence from the members of the new Welsh Assembly Government.
When celebrities such as Catherine Zeta Jones, Charlotte Church and Michael Douglas were helping to raise money for the children's hospital, politicians were lining up to have their picture taken with the stars of stage and screen. Yet, when there is a call for support for this worthwhile cause, ministers are nowhere to be seen. They should hang their heads in shame at such inaction.
As a father of two young boys, nothing is more important to me than the health of my children. With health spending in Wales greater per head than in England, I unequivocally believe that not only should there be an immediate commitment by the new Assembly Government to fully fund the Children's Hospital in Cardiff but funds should also be made available to establish a similar operation here in North Wales.
Indeed, if our politicians cannot provide support to a special hospital that has been largely funded by the charitable efforts of others, how can we trust them to keep their promises to stop the reorganisation of hospitals across North Wales and ensure that our hard earned taxes go towards providing the vital health services needed in the region?
Comments
The real issue is that the Childrens Hospital was not a Labour Party idea and there are no votes in it for them so they don't care what happens.
Who is the Chair of this Health Board, - lobby him/her what else are they spending money on. This is a political appointment, how much are they paid They did promise to support this hospital.