Randerson Will Fight for Children's Hospital

1.04.25pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 25th Jul 2007

Following the news that the Cardiff Local Health Board may not contribute to the running costs of the Children's Hospital. Jenny Randerson has vowed to press the Health Minister for alternative ways of funding the hospital.

"Cardiff Local Health Board is not funded in an effective manner and this is now starting to bite as they are put in a very difficult position over the Children's hospital.

"The Cardiff LHB's decision would set a very dangerous precedent for other contributors to the project such as the Government; the way that the funding for major projects in Wales is set up makes them very fragile. We now need a strategic lead from the Minister, who needs to provide the £3 million required centrally, probably via Health Commission Wales.

"It is interesting to note that the Children's Hospital was a key pledge in the rainbow government's programme. Plaid and Labour appear to have not included the same pledge.

"The Noah's Ark Appeal has demonstrated the massive public support for this project by raising tens of millions of pounds in donations. The Welsh Assembly Government simply cannot sit back and allow the project to flounder now. I am writing to the Health Minsiter to urge her to take decisive action to lead us out of this impasse."

Ends/diwedd

Contact/Cyswllt: Andrew Sherwood 02920 898324