Activists consider action on closures

Activists and councillors from across the region joined forces to form the North Wales Health Alliance (NWHA) on Monday in a bid to step up action against plans to close four community hospitals and move neonatal care to the Wirral.

NWHA's executive will meet again on Friday to consider advice about the possibility of mounting a legal challenge to the plans.

Coming just a week after more than 100 campaigners descended on the Wrexham office of Welsh Health Minister Lesley Griffiths, NWHA said in a statement: "We have come together because there is strength in unity.

"We are considering a legal challenge to the entire process. The advice we have received suggests Betsi Cadwaladr health board is vulnerable to a challenge."

The group also claimed patients are already being turned away from the hospitals earmarked for closure and urged the health minister to stop "closure by stealth."

The region's community health council, an independent body responsible for representing patients, are meeting tomorrow to consider their next move.

NWHA understands that the executive of the health council are split over whether to use its powers as a statutory body to force Ms Griffiths to review the health board's shake-up.

But campaigners say they are hopeful that council members will follow the example of the health council in west Wales which has called on the minister to review similar "downgrading" plans.