Randerson Corners Rhodri into Admitting Oxygen Overspend

4.34.10pm GMT Tue 14th Nov 2006

Today in Plenary the First Minister was forced to admit that the costs of the new oxygen contract were way over the £2.1m budgeted for it and that the full costs would be revealed.

Jenny Randerson AM, Health Spokesperson for the Welsh Liberal Democrats said "I have suspected for some time that the new oxygen contract scheme was way over budget but the Labour Assembly has been extremely reluctant to own up to the problem that they have created.

"The mishandling of the original contract caused deep distress for many anxious patients and the oxygen service still fails to provide an adequate service to many Welsh residents

"I just hope that there aren't any more overspends hidden away. It makes you wonder what else they are hiding."

From February 2006 a framework agreement with Air Products was enacted to provide an integrated home oxygen service across Wales under contacts managed by Local Health Boards. This replaced a pharmacy based system and has met with numerous problems since its inception.

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