17 January 2024 , Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-2025: evidence session with the Minister for Health and Social Services, the Deputy Minister for Social Services and the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being
Yes, but I think it's probably worth just setting out some of the things that are in that paper. So, first of all, they need to stabilise their financial position, and we've been really strict with them. We cannot continue with them overspending in the way…
17 January 2024 , Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-2025: evidence session with the Minister for Health and Social Services, the Deputy Minister for Social Services and the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being
I don't think it has, but I'm happy to give the committee a copy of the letter that we've sent out, if that would be—
17 January 2024 , Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-2025: evidence session with the Minister for Health and Social Services, the Deputy Minister for Social Services and the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being
Thanks very much and thanks to the committee for inviting us here this morning. I think, before getting into the detail, it's probably worth just setting out the big picture in terms of what's happened across Government, which is—and you'll all be aware of…
17 January 2024 , Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Healthcare inspection and funding
It's independent. It's independent.
17 January 2024 , Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Healthcare inspection and funding
So, within the report, within the HIW report, it's very clear that, actually, a lot of the work is all risk based, and some of it is based on what they hear from the public. There is a whistleblowing facility, where people can go directly to HIW, and that…
17 January 2024 , Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Healthcare inspection and funding
Am I allowed to make an intervention?
17 January 2024 , Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Healthcare inspection and funding
Sorry. There is already a robust process for dealing with NHS Wales complaints—a process that has been set out in regulations. HIW's annual report does play a key part in terms of noting where improvements are needed. I will continue to work with my officials…
17 January 2024 , Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Healthcare inspection and funding
Another key area that has received attention from HIW is improving patient flow in hospitals, and we've developed a national initiative with an additional £25 million in funding. There is specific emphasis on starting to plan to discharge patients from the…
17 January 2024 , Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Healthcare inspection and funding
No, if you don't mind, I'll make some progress. I'm happy for you to come in a bit later. You can save all your interventions up and bring them all in a bit later. Now, such a focused approach based on evidence from HIW and other sources, I think, is more…
17 January 2024 , Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Healthcare inspection and funding
—'where inpatient care is provided.' I think that's—[Interruption.] I think that's clear enough, and I think people should accept what they have written in their report. Now, the report and its findings show the pressures and challenges that our NHS faces…
17 January 2024 , Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Healthcare inspection and funding
It says: 'We visited all Health Boards and Trusts'—
17 January 2024 , Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Healthcare inspection and funding
Llywydd, I want to start by welcoming Healthcare Inspectorate Wales's annual report, and thanking everyone in the organisation for the huge amount of inspection and assurance work they do every year. Of course, it will be disappointing to HIW that the budget…
17 January 2024 , Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Healthcare inspection and funding
Formally.
16 January 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Winter pressures in healthcare
Thanks very much. I think one of the things that needs to be borne in mind is that it's not just about what's given this year, but that, actually, we gave a significant uplift last year. So, in Wales, we gave a 6 per cent uplift, and on top of that there was…
16 January 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Winter pressures in healthcare
Diolch yn fawr. I take advice, obviously, from my officials and from health boards in terms of when they think it's the appropriate time for us to initiate mask wearing within our hospitals. And I think there are occasions, and we have to make sure that we…
16 January 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Winter pressures in healthcare
As James will know, most GPs are independent consultants. They work independently and they have to balance the books once they have made a contract with us. So, we have contractual negotiations with them. One of the things that we've done as a result of that…
16 January 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Winter pressures in healthcare
Thanks very much, and I too would like to extend my thanks to the NHS staff, who have been under incredible pressure over the winter period. It was really heart-warming to meet some of them when I dropped in without warning to several hospitals over the…
16 January 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Winter pressures in healthcare
Just in terms of the strikes, obviously we're disappointed that the junior doctors have decided to take the action that they have, but we understand it; we understand their frustrations. And we are indeed frustrated by the lack of additional money coming from…
16 January 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Winter pressures in healthcare
Thank you very much. I want to confirm that we have been preparing well in advance for the winter, but what we're doing is ensuring that we don't have a separate plan for winter but that this is prepared in advance. There's no point having a separate plan…
16 January 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Winter pressures in healthcare
In terms of the take-up of vaccination, I can tell you that, so far, in the 65 and older category, 74 per cent of people have had their flu vaccination update. I think it's fair to say that we are disappointed that NHS staff with direct patient contacts is at…
16 January 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Winter pressures in healthcare
Thank you very much. Obviously, this is a time of extreme pressure without strikes going on, so, clearly, we've put a huge amount of planning anyway into winter, but I can assure you that, in terms of monitoring, I'm currently getting three updates a day in…
16 January 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Winter pressures in healthcare
In the meantime, health boards remain very pressurised in relation to pathways of care delays from hospital to the community. However, there is evidence of positive integrated working between health boards and local authorities to alleviate pressures. We have…
16 January 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Winter pressures in healthcare
Clearly, we are expecting a significant impact from junior doctor strikes this week. Whilst we understand the strength of feeling amongst junior doctors and genuinely appreciate the work they do on the front line, it has been impossible for us to offer more…
16 January 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Winter pressures in healthcare
We continue to invest in our surveillance system to monitor any changes in the prevalence and epidemiology of viruses to support the planning process. Vaccination is one of the safest and most effective ways of protecting our citizens and health service, and…
16 January 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Winter pressures in healthcare
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Thank you for the opportunity to update Members on the winter pressures being faced by our health and social care system. It's important to point out that, despite the significant increase in demand for services at this time of the…
