FOR the last few months I have been carrying out a survey throughout Wales on the Welsh NHS. Many Barry residents have completed it and I am grateful for the feedback you have given us. The survey was an opportunity for people anywhere in the country to tell us their views on a range of health related issues – from GP services and ambulance response times, to free prescriptions and hospital admissions. The full results can be found here: www.yourvoiceintheassembly.co.uk/yourwelshnhs

It was clear from the findings that we still view the NHS as a national treasure. Even though there are some very serious issues with way it is being run here in Wales, the principle of a health system which provides care for all, free at the point of delivery, remains as popular as ever.

We had interesting findings on a range of local services: Cardiff and Vale residents want better access to GP appointments in evenings and weekends. One-in-four say they’ve struggled to access NHS dentistry locally. Only 29 per cent back the Welsh Government’s policy on free prescriptions. Most feel that hospital standards of care are good, though many did have issues during hospital stays (one-in-three) and 45 per cent of those felt that their complaints weren’t always taken seriously by staff.

Indeed, it was the issue of complaints handling which concerned me most. Most of the time the care patients receive is exemplary, but that’s how it should be. Sadly though, we did hear from a worrying number of patients who did experience unacceptably poor care. One hospital patient described being “left to wait on a blood-stained bed […] in a ward which was reeking with urine”. Another was frustrated with how her complaints were handled, and observed that she had now “learnt to shout loud and long to make sure that I am heard as a human being and not a tick on the list”.

We also heard from a large number of local NHS staff, many of whom said they were too afraid to raise concerns. NHS staff should not feel “unvalued, unheard, overworked and stressed”. They are the front line, lions led in all too many cases by donkeys. They work tirelessly to keep Welsh NHS services going, in spite of record-breaking cuts by Welsh Labour in recent years. It is alarming that whilst there have been a number of serious allegations of poor practice in Welsh hospitals, not one member of senior management has been held properly accountable.

Next week is Remembrance Sunday and it is worth reflecting on the importance of the occasion. During the Second World War many Barry residents fought bravely and, ultimately, gave their lives in the cause of fighting tyranny. But the fundraising done by the Royal British Legion, and others, around this time is not just about our heroes of WWII. The Legion does a wonderful job supporting all of our veterans including those who have served in contemporary conflicts. In 2012, for example, your donations meant that more than 25,000 Immediate Needs Grants were received by members of the service and ex-service community.

A large proportion of the charity’s much needed funds are collected in the next few short weeks so please give generously if you can. I hope to see many of you at one of the upcoming services of remembrance to salute those who fell in many conflicts around the World, and sing a hymn and say a prayer to remember them.