Members have mainly argued about delayed discharge from hospital, the Plaid Cymru Government's plan for a national care service, and pay and recruitment in the care workforce. Unpaid carers, care-experienced children, corporate parenting and safeguarding after the Neil Foden case also drew repeated debate. Opposition parties pressed for detail, funding and dates.
The main arguments
Jane Dodds (Welsh Liberal Democrats) said 1,275 people were stuck in hospital waiting for social care, and cited a WLGA funding gap of over £200 million against £180 million in the budget. She later cited 558 people in hospital at Christmas. Contributions: [1][2]
May 2021Mar 2026
3,107 contributions in the Sixth Senedd touched on this. The busiest month was Mar 2023, with 356.
Who raises it
Labour62%
Conservative18%
Plaid14%
Lib Dem5%
Independent1%
Reform0%
Share of the 2,081 contributions on this subject, by the speaker's party.
Peter Fox (Welsh Conservatives) asked whether councils would get a significant funding uplift to deliver workforce expansion and pay reform, or be expected to find the money within existing resources. Contributions: [1][2]
Rhun ap Iorwerth and Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru) back a national care service with a national academy and fair pay. James Evans (Reform UK) opposes it as bureaucracy, and Natasha Asghar (Welsh Conservatives) wants immediate improvements to existing services instead. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
On the workforce, Delyth Jewell said the real living wage should be the minimum and fair pay agreements are progressing. James Evans asked for pay above that level. Kiera Marshall (Plaid Cymru) raised reports of exploited visa-tied homecare workers. Contributions: [1][2][3]
On unpaid carers, Jayne Bryant (Welsh Labour) sought a statement on the 'At breaking point' report, and Jane Dodds raised young carers' low assessment rates. Rhun ap Iorwerth cited short breaks and a new national strategy. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Sarah Cooper-Lesadd (Reform UK) argued health boards should have statutory corporate parenting duties, not a voluntary charter. Counsel General Elfyn Llwyd said over 70 organisations had signed and legislation stays under review. The Government abstained on her motion. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
On safeguarding, Delyth Jewell announced 'Stronger Safeguarding for a Safer Wales'. Lynne Neagle (Welsh Labour) asked about the Foden review recommendations. Sam Rowlands (Welsh Conservatives) urged a Wales-wide grooming gangs inquiry. Catherine Cullen (Reform UK) warned of burdensome safeguarding processes. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Jane Dodds asked the Government to stop the loss of community hospital beds in Powys, saying they are vital for social care and getting people home from hospital. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Where the parties stand
Welsh Liberal Democrats
Jane Dodds presses on people stuck in hospital, the funding gap, Powys community beds, young carers and care leavers. She asked for clear Government targets. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
Welsh Conservatives
Natasha Asghar wants health and social care integrated and does not believe a national care service is the answer. Peter Fox asks how councils will be funded. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Welsh Labour
Jayne Bryant asks how integrated pathways out of hospital will be funded and defends the short breaks scheme. On 20 October she said Welsh Labour shares the aspiration for a national health and care service. Lynne Neagle asks for full commitment to the Foden review. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Plaid CymruShifted
Rhun ap Iorwerth and Delyth Jewell, for the Government, are progressing a national care service, a national care academy, fair pay, support for unpaid carers and a safeguarding programme. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
How this has shifted: In June and July the Government set out commitments and intentions. On 20 October it published a programme with six foundations and £3.6 million of additional funding.
Reform UK
James Evans opposes a national care service and favours integrating social care into health. Claire Archibald says rural social care has been neglected. Sarah Cooper-Lesadd seeks statutory corporate parenting duties. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
What the government is being pressed on
1How will councils fund social care? Peter Fox and Jane Dodds asked about the WLGA funding gap. Delyth Jewell said spending data would improve, as funding is unhypothecated, and confirmed £3.6 million on top of existing streams. No direct answer on a council uplift is in the material. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
2What will be done about delayed discharge? Jane Dodds raised 1,275 people waiting. Mabon ap Gwynfor said winter plans include proactive frailty care and moving resources into the community. Contributions: [1][2][3]
3Why are corporate parenting duties not statutory for health boards? Counsel General Elfyn Llwyd said the Welsh approach differs from England's, the charter is working, and a revised code of practice will follow later this year. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
4When will the national care academy and a care pay structure arrive? James Evans asked. Delyth Jewell said an academy will be set up this term and that 84 per cent of the workforce receive the real living wage. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
5What more will be done for unpaid carers' respite? David Hughes asked about funding. Rhun ap Iorwerth pointed to the short breaks scheme and a new national strategy, within scarce resources. Contributions: [1][2][3]
What the public is asking for
The largest petition, with 10,525 signatures, asks to halt loss of beds and community hospital closures in Powys. Others ask councils to prioritise quality when commissioning social care (650), and for body worn cameras for social workers (374). All are open.
Who ministers are meeting
Ministers have met regional partnership boards, Social Care Wales, a social care roundtable, young carers and Voices from Care Cymru, the National Independent Safeguarding Board, and the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
In the Sixth Senedd (2021 to 2026)
From the previous Senedd's record, for issues that run across both. The rest of this analysis covers the Seventh Senedd only.
In the Sixth Senedd, social care debate centred on unpaid carers, the real living wage for care workers, child protection after the death of Logan Mwangi, and eliminating profit from children's care. Members from several parties pressed for reviews and faster reform of services for care-experienced children.
In February 2022 Julie Morgan (Welsh Labour) announced the real living wage for registered care workers. Peredur Owen Griffiths (Plaid Cymru) welcomed it but feared it papered over cracks, and Darren Millar (Welsh Conservatives) welcomed it as a step forward. Contributions: [1][2][3]
After Logan Mwangi's death, Jane Dodds and Mark Isherwood (Welsh Conservatives) called for an independent review of child protection. Julie Morgan listed existing reviews and four planned joint inspections. Contributions: [1][2][3]
The Government accepted a small share of the 2023 committee recommendations on radical reform for care-experienced children, which Jane Dodds called disappointing. The Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill then proposed removing private profit from children's care. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Altaf Hussain (Welsh Conservatives) warned of unintended consequences of removing profit. Dawn Bowden (Welsh Labour) said looked-after children themselves drove the policy. Later debates covered unpaid carers' rights and hospital discharge. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Written by AI on 6 November 2026 from 218 contributions in the Senedd between 19 May 2026 and 4 November 2026, with the petitions and ministers' meetings on this brief. Each point links to the contributions it draws on; check them before quoting. How the analysis is written. Report an error
Where things stand
Statistics published by the Welsh Government. Each chart covers the years since the 2016 Senedd election, or as far back as the figures go, and marks each election since.
Delays in leaving hospital
1,417
September 2026
A year earlier
1,374(September 2025)
Before the 2026 election
1,275(April 2026)
Adults in NHS hospital beds who were clinically ready to leave but whose move home or to the next stage of care had been delayed by more than 48 hours, counted on a census day each month.
This count began in April 2023, replacing an earlier measure of delayed transfers of care.
The Programme for Government 2026 to 2030 belongs to the Seventh Senedd. Choose the Seventh Senedd to see how often each commitment has come up.
Strengthening social care
Move towards a National Care Service by strengthening social care through a National Service Programme ensuring consistent standards, improved data collection and a better supported workforce.
Deliver safeguarding reform that strengthens the protection of children and adults through clearer accountability, stronger leadership and better use of data and intelligence to drive continuous improvement in practice.
Source: Welsh Government, Programme for government 2026 to 2030: New ambition for Wales, first published on 10 September 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Mentions are found by matching the names of plans, bodies and schemes; a mention says nothing about progress.
From the Welsh Government
The Welsh Government's latest press releases and Cabinet statements on this brief.
• New Safeguarding programme to strengthen protection for children, young people and adults at risk from abuse and neglect. • A new Ministerial Assurance Board and intelligence hub to detect warning signs earlier and…
In the news
The latest headlines on this brief, linking to each outlet's story.
Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Safeguarding the health of firefighters
Luke Fletcher (Plaid Cymru) brought a motion on cancer risks for firefighters from exposure to toxic fumes from fires. It asked the Welsh Government to work with the Fire Brigades Union and others, set up a health monitoring programme with annual cancer screening, and follow international best practice. The Senedd agreed it.
The vote on the motion itself, which asks the Welsh Government to protect firefighters from cancer-causing fumes, monitor their exposure and offer yearly cancer screening.
Agreed
For 30Against 0Abstain 15
Explanations are written by AI from the published motion and the debate. Check the wording on the vote's page before quoting.
Votes are tagged from their own titles and the agenda item they were held under.
Each bar is the share of that party's speeches and questions in the Sixth Senedd that touched this brief, so large and small parties can be compared. The upright line marks the chamber as a whole: 1.1%.
Ministers' meetings with outside organisations and their engagements on this brief, from the register the Welsh Government publishes every three months. 1 since the 2026 election:
13 July 2026
Bwrdd Diogelu Annibynnol Cenedlaethol / National Independent Safeguarding Board
Meeting, Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
On 26 April 2024, the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister is holding a scrutiny session about support for Care Experienced Children with the new First Minister, Vaughan Gething MS.
Tagged from the title of its item or question: “care-experienced”Official Record
Month by month
356
19
202120222023202420252026
Contributions tagged in each month of the Sixth Senedd. No sittings were held in August 2021, August 2022, August 2023, December 2024 and August 2025.Show the numbers
Month
Contributions
May 2021
2
June 2021
11
July 2021
9
August 2021
No sittings
September 2021
12
October 2021
22
November 2021
31
December 2021
26
January 2022
36
February 2022
29
March 2022
146
April 2022
81
May 2022
56
June 2022
103
July 2022
30
August 2022
No sittings
September 2022
4
October 2022
28
November 2022
44
December 2022
How this brief is put together
This brief follows the Programme commitments listed above and tags the record with the phrases below. Keyword matching can miss business that discusses the issue in other words, and can tag a passing mention.
Show the phrases it uses
A contribution is tagged when its English text contains one of these phrases. Capital letters don't matter, except in abbreviations, which must match exactly. It is also tagged when the title of the agenda item or question it was part of contains one, as long as the contribution is at least 30 words long. The brief is also tagged whenever one of its themes is.
Children looked after by Welsh councils on 31 March each year, including children on care orders and other children provided with accommodation by their council. Children looked after only for short breaks (respite care) are not counted.
The publisher rounds these figures to the nearest 5.
