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Topical Questions
Thanks very much. The 5 per cent increase for 2023-24 is, I'm afraid, at the limits of the finances available to us, and reflects the agreement reached with the other health unions for this year. We, of course, remain committed to working in social…
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Topical Questions
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. It's disappointing that consultants and specialty and specialist doctors have voted to take strike action, but we understand the strength of their feeling about the 5 per cent pay offer. The £168 million funding announced today by the…
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Welsh Conservatives Debate: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Thanks. Well, I know 10 reviews, as you say, have been commissioned. Four of them have actually been published, so it's up to you to go and have a look at those, because they are out there and they are published, and the others will be published once they…
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Welsh Conservatives Debate: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Thank you. There are so many things that have improved during the past 12 months. There's stability now in terms of the board, but what we need now is ongoing improvement. I do think that the change of culture that has come from the top of the organisation…
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Welsh Conservatives Debate: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
I know how much time people have had to wait for appointments, care and treatment over the past year, and I know that that's been frustrating. There are reasons for hope, however. We must always remember that thousands of people across north Wales receive…
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Welsh Conservatives Debate: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
The ring fence was increased by £25 million despite our dire financial position, so I think it is probably worth noting that we are absolutely committed to this. It is one of the priorities that I always set for the health boards: that we are absolutely…
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Welsh Conservatives Debate: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
If you don't mind, I'll just finish the bit on mental health. Performance against the various measures for adult and child and adolescent mental health services has generally improved, although, of course, some challenges remain. I'm happy to take an…
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Welsh Conservatives Debate: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Over the last year, there have been many changes within the health board, with support and advice provided by expert independent advisers. There has been a change in leadership and approach with a new chief executive. Yes, it took a while to get the permanent…
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Welsh Conservatives Debate: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm pleased to have the opportunity to respond to this debate this afternoon and to continue the discussion around Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Yesterday, I set out some of the improvements that have been made over…
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Welsh Conservatives Debate: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Formally.
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Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Special measures at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board—One year on
Thanks very much. Well, I think I covered some of that answer in response to Mabon, which was the listing of the sustainability conditions that I've already set out: strategic vision, performance and quality and culture change. So, there was a long list that…
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Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Special measures at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board—One year on
Thanks very much. I think you're right to draw attention to the fact that the Audit Wales report recognised that there are still challenges, but I think it's really important that they also recognise that substantial change has been made and the board is in a…
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Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Special measures at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board—One year on
Thanks very much. I'd like to put on record my thanks to Dyfed Edwards as well. I think he's shown real leadership in what is a very difficult situation. He's made it clear that he's there to listen and he's engaging with communities, and there's a real…
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Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Special measures at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board—One year on
Diolch yn fawr. I think you're absolutely right—it's all very well that we need to change the culture at the top, we need to change the organisation, but, actually, what is it that matters to the public? What they want is access on time to a service that they…
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Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Special measures at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board—One year on
I think it's probably worth setting out that there have been lots of very new appointments to key positions. We've got a new chief executive, of course, but there is also a new interim finance director, a new interim executive director of operations, a new…
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Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Special measures at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board—One year on
Thank you very much. You're quite right to focus on the fact that the workforce in Betsi is crucially important, and they are there to ensure that healthcare is provided to the people living in north Wales. There are over 20,000 people working for the health…
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Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Special measures at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board—One year on
If you look at what GIRFT recommends—the Getting It Right First Time experts in the field—what they say is, actually, we should be doing far more day-case surgery. So, it's a sign of success if you've got fewer patients, because it means that they're being…
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Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Special measures at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board—One year on
Wel, diolch yn fawr. I did make it very clear that there is still a long way to go in relation to Betsi, and we're only in year 1, and actually there has been, I think, quite a long road travelled in the right direction, but I make no apology on behalf of the…
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Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Special measures at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board—One year on
All of this is key to changing the culture within the health board and its organisation. But the key question is: what difference is this making for people living in north Wales? Well, they should take comfort from the fact that performance in the board is…
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Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Special measures at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board—One year on
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Next week will mark 12 months since I placed Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board into special measures. Today, I want to take the opportunity to reflect on the last year and to share with you how the health board, despite…
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Short Debate: Faster access to hearing services in Wales
The Welsh Government will continue to ask for updates on progress against the recommendations in the operational framework. If there isn't significant progress made, then we will need to consider other funding options too within the health boards' budgetary…
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Short Debate: Faster access to hearing services in Wales
No. I'd be disappointed if, within a year, this is not something that we've seen rolled out. We know that two health boards are doing it already. They all know what to do. I think we've got to give them a little bit of space to get on with it, but there have…
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Short Debate: Faster access to hearing services in Wales
Sure.
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Short Debate: Faster access to hearing services in Wales
Diolch yn fawr. I'm grateful for the opportunity of the short debate today to focus on this important topic of faster access to hearing services. The Welsh Government recognises that loss of hearing at any age can be devastating and, as a result, can leave…
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Plaid Cymru Debate: The health service
It's 1.5 million.
