North Wales MS Mark Isherwood MS has questioned the First Minister over the new Covid-19 restrictions introduced to much of North Wales last Thursday, highlighting the problems they are causing many people, including NHS staff, in the region.
During yesterday’s ‘hybrid’ meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood referred to the case of a junior doctor, who lives alone and has been working long hours throughout the pandemic, whose primary outlet of support is now illegal because of the new rules imposed by the Welsh Government.
Taking part in proceedings from his home in North Wales, Mr Isherwood said:
“I live in the largest population crossing a national boundary in the UK, with close relatives nearby on both sides of our invisible border.
“In this context, what penalties for breaking COVID-19 rules do you believe should apply were an anaesthetic junior doctor at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd to meet his fiancée, undertaking a clinical fellowship at The Christie Hospital in Manchester, where each has to live locally to these hospitals?
“Each has been at the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic since its beginning here, which led both to contract COVID-19 in the course of their work. Each has worked additional hours without additional pay. Each lives alone. They have persevered with physical and mental exhaustion by supporting each other.
“However, your latest announcement on lockdown restrictions in North East Wales means that their primary outlet of support is now illegal, because they cannot visit each other. What have you got to say to them?”
In his response the First Minister said people “who work in the health service will undoubtedly understand why it is not sensible for people from very high coronavirus areas to be able to travel to and mix with people who live in areas where the virus is not in such vivid circulation.”
He added: ”Those members of the health service will also know, even if the Member doesn't, that the impact of coronavirus at community level is now being felt in our hospitals as well. If the Member does not understand the need to take action and to take action now to prevent the impact on our NHS returning to where it once was earlier in the year, then I can assure him that people who work in the health service understand that very well”.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Isherwood said: “It wasn’t me who said this, it was these NHS staff, and I suspect that they will have a far better understanding of the precautions necessary to prevent infection than him!”