P-04-448:
Improve Sexual health services for Western Vale – Additional
information from Petitioner
Dear Mr Williams
Thank you for taking the time to listen to my concerns, apologies
for
interupting your evening.
I will forward the agenda for 28th January, I would be grateful if
the
town council would consider this issue at it's next meeting.
Currently Cardiff & Vale UHB fund 1 x clinic (11-1pm every
Friday) for
family planning/contraception services. This clinic is attended by
children as young as 12 who feel unable to approach their GP and
value
the non judgemental holistic, professional care this service
provides.
I am a community nurse working within this locality, I am also a
resident of Llantwit Major and mother of 3 girls. I was shocked to
learn that this is the only such clinic for the entire western
vale. I
subsequently placed an e petition with the assembly. This petition
requested WAG to increase funding to the UHB to increase services
(Barry alone currently has 3 clinics) I have since learned that
there
are rumoured plans to remove the service completely in favour of an
ISHC in Barry.
Just last year in a BBC Wales report on this subject WAG made a
promise to improve access and funding for sexual health services in
Wales. This statement followed concerns raised by the head of
midwifery who cited that the numbers of abortions within the <18
age
group and risen significantly.
As a current Bsc student at Cardiff University I have identified
this
issue as a very real health inequality and testament to the fact
that
the postcode lottery is alive and well in Wales, especially within
rural areas.
The vale of Glamorgan is all too often wrongly perceived as an
affluent area. As a local community nurse I see very real pockets
of
poverty. These families have the added challenge of facing a
disparity
in service provision. Projects such as sure start/flying start are
widely available in Barry or Bridgend but not the western
vale.
As a resident/mother/nurse I feel strongly that we can not allow
yet
another service to be taken away. How much longer should residents
tolerate paying their hard earned money in taxes only to discover
that
services are to be provided outside of their area?
This clinic currently cares for the young and vulnerable in our
community. Our government and health service has a duty to protect
such vulnerable groups.
As a constituent I am asking my Town council to help prevent the
loss
of yet another service in the Western Vale.
Kind regards
Becky lowrie