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Wales has too many hospitals and beds, according to the country’s finance minister, Mark Drakeford. Speaking on the “For Wales, See Wales” podcast, Drakeford called for less investment in hospitals and more in primary care. He said money was sucked into secondary care, while nine out of 10 contacts with the health service take place in primary care. Drakeford’s former brief as Welsh Labour first minister saw him head the health portfolio for three years.
The Welsh Conservatives have accused the Labour government of failing to deliver enough new hospitals, which they say creates a lack of beds. But Drakeford warned that the hospital sector drains NHS resources, adding that if he could start the system again he would have fewer hospitals within it. Drakeford is responsible for budgets and is currently negotiating to get his through the Senedd. His draft budget included an extra £600m ($811m) for the NHS to help reduce record waiting lists.
The First Minister, Eluned Morgan, responded to the Tories, saying £1m capital was given by the Conservative government when they held power – not enough to increase hospital capacity. She added that there needed to be more recognition of the importance of community support services and preventative work. Conservative shadow health secretary James Evans claimed that labour’s “NHS overcentralisation, excessive bureaucracy and bloated management” has bogged down the system, and “fundamental reform” was needed
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