I have been in touch with both local health boards about the possibility of providing kidney dialysis facilities in Bridgend. And I am delighted that there is a plan to open provide new satellite dialysis units in both Bridgend and Port Talbot.
Initially, Swansea Bay Health Board had hoped to locate the Bridgend unit on the Princess of Wales hospital site, but after talks were held with Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board, which runs the hospital, it was decided that there was no room there to locate this unit.
As a result, an alternative location will be sought. A campaign to get dialysis into Bridgend was launched many years ago with support from local clinicians so that local people can be dialysed locally instead of having to travel to hospitals further afield.
Swansea Bay, which is taking the lead on this, is now going through a tendering process to provide the two new units.
The plan will be to provide two new buildings- one in Bridgend and on in Port Talbot. No decisions about their locations have been made yet.
The board now hopes to get approval for the final tendering process with a view to awarding the contract to the successful bidder by August and then having both units operational by September next year.
I will be giving this plan my full backing as a regional MS for South Wales West and will be writing to Welsh Health Minister Eluned Morgan to ensure that the necessary funding is made available.
The charity Morgannwg Endeavour has been campaigning for dialysis facilities to be established east of Swansea to serve the communities of Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend and I welcome their support in this fight.