VALE MP Alun Cairns has raised concerns regarding the recent statement by the local Community Health Council (CHC) which described the out of hours GP service in the Vale of Glamorgan as diabolical.

Mr Cairns understands that after 1pm there is only one GP and one nurse based at the UHW site available to cover the population of Cardiff and the Vale. Originally the cover was provided by two GPs in the Vale and two in Cardiff with one GP “out on the road” in each area. Following this report and the complaints he has received from worried constituents Alun Cairns has arranged to meet with the head of the CHC.

This follows a meeting he had last week with the Local Health Board about Barry Hospital which included discussions about out of hours care.

Alun explained: “I have been concerned for some while that residents in Barry are particularly at risk because of the lack of out of hours care. I received many complaints regarding out of hours care in the town and understand that residents attend A&E rather than seek assistance locally. This obviously adds pressure to an already overstretched emergency department.

“There are concerns that Barry has no cover at some periods. Barry is Wales’ largest town. We should not suffer because of the dominance of Cardiff.

“I receive many complaints regarding the out of hours care in the Vale of Glamorgan and raised this with the Local Health Board last week. This comment by the CHC, the patient watchdog, has echoed many feelings that the system should be overhauled. I want service commissioners to address this as a matter of urgency.

"I fear we are experiencing the impact of cuts to the health budget here in Wales. The Welsh Government is the only administration to cut health spend.”