Jones criticises Clwyd's NHS attacks

18 March 2014 Last updated at 16:06

Carwyn Jones criticises Ann Clwyd's attacks on Welsh NHS

Ann Clwyd has been critical of the Welsh NHS

First Minister Carwyn Jones has criticised Labour MP Ann Clwyd for her attacks on the state of the Welsh NHS.

He told AMs: "Ann Clwyd has produced no evidence and no facts."

Mr Jones said Ms Clwyd had provided "anonymous" and "unattributable" comments that "can't be investigated".

She said last year deaths of patients waiting for heart surgery at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, were the equivalent of the Stafford Hospital scandal where patients died needlessly.

In her latest criticism, in an article in Monday's Times newspaper, Ms Clwyd said the NHS in Wales was facing a "crisis" and the latest waiting waiting times statistics were a "warning sign of deep problems in the Welsh NHS".

During First Minister's Questions on Tuesday, Mr Jones said Ms Clwyd had been asked "on more than one occasion" to produce the evidence to back up her claims.

When asked by Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies about Ms Clwyd's criticism of the length of waiting times in the Welsh NHS, Mr Jones said: "I'm afraid Ann has based her allegations on the way her husband was treated.

"She has refused permission for the report surrounding her husband's treatment to be made public.

"I think it's important for people to make a judgement on what happened when that report is made public but that is ultimately a matter of course for others."

'Ingrained problems'

Speaking later, Mr Davies said Welsh minsters should be "listening carefully and acting on her fears" rather than "condemning Ann Clwyd for speaking out".

"Each and every time Mrs Clwyd has raised concerns they have been proved correct," he said.

"I have asked the first minister if he will work with me to facilitate joint discussions with Ann Clwyd and, despite his response, I will continue to work towards this aim.

"Case after case. Fault after fault. The deeply ingrained problems within Labour's NHS are clear for all to see."

Ms Clwyd has been asked to respond to the criticism.