Randerson Challenges Health Minister on Healthy Hearts Centre

2.41.26pm GMT Wed 21st Mar 2007

Jenny Randerson, AM for Cardiff Central today challenged the Heath Minister to ensure that an equivalent service would be provided after the end of lottery funding for the Healthy Hearts Centre in Llanishen.

"Members of Llanishen Healthy Hearts have contacted me about this. The club meets every week and provides several options for exercise such as aerobics and swimming under medically trained supervision. Cardiac nurses also visit to provide support and guidance. The members regard this as an invaluable service that helps them to recover and stay fit. Yet the Trust and the LHB seem to have no plans to continue these clubs once lottery funding runs out.

"I asked the Minister to provide assurances that the equivalent cardiac rehab services would not be lost but he passed the buck.

"The centres are in line with Brian Gibbons' aim for healthy living, his lack of assurance means that Labour's professed commitment to healthy living is in tatters. We should not have to rely on the lottery to fund our health service"

Ends/diwedd

Contact/cyswllt: Andrew Sherwood - 029 2089 8324