Mid and West Wales AM, Eluned Morgan has promised to champion the cause of children with arthritis in Pembrokeshire.
Ms Morgan is seeking an urgent response from Hywel Dda Health Board about the provision of care for patients like 8 year old Aimee from Haverfordwest who travelled to the Assembly last week to share her experience of living with the condition.
As part of the #TooYoungForArthritis event at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, young people from across Wales met Assembly Members to seek support for expanded rheumatology provision in Wales.
There is currently no provision in Pembrokeshire, with patients having to travel to Cardiff to receive the care they need.
Aimee, who attends Ysgol Ysgol Glan Cleddau, spoke with Eluned Morgan about how arthritis impacts on her life and those she knows with the condition.
Eluned Morgan said, “We often think that arthritis is a condition associated with only older people. But this simply is not the case, that is why I want to see a strengthening of the care provision so that young people from west Wales should not have to travel to Cardiff for care. I have written to Hywel Dda Health Board to seek their assurances that they are looking at this issue and working with ABMU Health Board for example to provide care closer to home.”
