, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
It's probably important to set out that I don't set, as Minister, targets for each individual health board; it's the health boards themselves that deliver clinically in their areas, so it's up to them to deliver based on their ability to do so. But you do…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Diolch. Dirprwy Lywydd, I'm not sure if I should declare an interest: I used to be a staff member for the British Heart Foundation many years ago, since the Member referenced the British Heart Foundation in his question. But, on to the substantive point, I…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Our programme for government commits to prioritising the prevention of ill health through a cross-Government approach and development of a public health strategy. It also includes a commitment to strengthen national clinical pathways for cardiovascular care…
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Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Thank you. I think you're right, the programme for government did list a non-exhaustive list of a number of health issues that are related to people in Wales. When I say 'non-exhaustive', it means that there are others out there that we will be tackling and…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Dirprwy Lywydd, I'd like to thank the Member for that line of questioning. Now, the programme for government is an excellent piece of work—many here would agree. But the job of the programme for government isn't to set out the absolute detail of every piece…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
That's an interesting question, because the structure that we have around the accountability framework is a legacy of your Government, something that my predecessor, Edwina Hart, had set up originally back in 2009. I'm not happy with the current…
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Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Not that I am aware of, Ken, but if you are aware of any issues that you think should be brought to my attention then please do so.
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Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Member is right; it is frustrating that the planning process can hold things up. That's why we will be working with the Minister for planning, Siân Gwenllian, here, on identifying how we can improve that planning process for essential infrastructure. But…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Because we're taking action on this. I've spoken to the BMA several times before being in this position and since about the importance of primary care and GPs and their roles. They are crucial, you're quite right. If we are going to tackle your first question…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Thanks to the Member for giving me the opportunity to once again respond to questions around waiting lists, which I have exercised quite often over the last few months, so whatever I say won't be new. You are quite right that the numbers are going up…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Thank you. You make an important point there about the fact that, if people can't access their healthcare, then they have to pay, and it's not exactly free at the point of delivery then. As I said, this is an issue where WAST is conducting a current review…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Thank you for that supplementary question, which makes a crucial point about the access to public transport and the links of public transport to our health organisations. I was at Llantrisant Health Park recently—you might have seen the new development…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
You're absolutely right to highlight the impact that cancellations can have on some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. Access to healthcare isn't just about the appointment itself, as you rightly say; it's also about ensuring that people can…
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Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Thank you for the question. The NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee holds the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust to account through routine performance scrutiny, including cancellation trends, causes and geographical patterns. WAST’s…
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Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Thanks for the question, and we do appreciate and understand that a lot of people, organisations and businesses across Wales will be feeling the squeeze over the coming months as energy costs increase. My officials are continuously monitoring the situation…
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Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Thanks for that. You do make a very important point about accessibility in rural communities, or the lack of accessibility. That's why this Government has put forward the rural-proofing plan, so that, whenever a policy is developed or whenever anything is…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Thank you. Dirprwy Lywydd, the Member makes an important point there in terms of the role of integrated care closer to home, and, of course, that's what we're trying to do at the moment. We have delivered on the commitment that we made during our first 100…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
In line with our programme for government commitment, our integrated community care system framework brings health, social care, housing and third-sector partners together around local needs. Through the regional integration fund and integration and…
, Plenary
Short Debate: The importance of local services—Protecting the future of Withybush hospital
Llywydd, it's also important to be clear about where the responsibilities lie. Under the current statutory framework, it is the responsibility of NHS organisations to make decisions about the form of local services, acting within their statutory duties and…
, Plenary
Short Debate: The importance of local services—Protecting the future of Withybush hospital
Llywydd, I said in this Chamber recently that the true measure of success for this Government is not how many hospital beds we fill, but how many people we help to live healthier lives without needing one. That means investing in prevention, early…
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Short Debate: The importance of local services—Protecting the future of Withybush hospital
Thank you, Llywydd. I welcome the opportunity to respond to this debate, and to acknowledge the strong feelings held by people in Ceredigion Penfro about the future of healthcare services and the role of Withybush Hospital in the future. I wish to start with…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care: Review of the Escalation and Intervention Framework
Thank you very much to Anna Nicholl for that series of hugely important questions when it comes to looking at how we ensure that we create that space to improve leadership. Leadership is at the heart of this new framework. It is one of those things where we…
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Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care: Review of the Escalation and Intervention Framework
Thank you for that. I am disappointed that you're taking this opportunity to make political points on issues that are beyond what we're addressing today. You know full well that the Government can't intervene in the process that is currently ongoing when it…
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Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care: Review of the Escalation and Intervention Framework
Diolch, Louise. Very good points there. You're very, very right, it's a dry document, isn't it, and I think it shows in the numbers present here. It's not, probably, the most exciting thing, but it's one of the foundational pieces of work that we have to get…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care: Review of the Escalation and Intervention Framework
Thank you, Gwyn, for those questions. And I'm always reluctant to tackle any questions that specialist clinicians such as Gwyn, and, indeed, Safa, can ask, so I'm very pleased that we're talking about something more technical here. But the Member is perfectly…
