, Health and Social Care Committee
Scrutiny of the Chief Nursing Office for Wales
Joyce Watson.
, Health and Social Care Committee
Scrutiny of the Chief Nursing Office for Wales
This is the Health and Social Care Committee. I'd like to welcome any stakeholders and others watching in this morning to committee. Welcome back to Members. Before we go any further, if there are any declarations of interest that want to be highlighted in…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Reducing NHS pressures
Diolch, Llywydd, and I move the amendments in the name of my colleague Darren Millar. Can I thank Plaid Cymru for bringing forward this debate again? I say 'again' because we keep having health debates. It's very similar to a debate brought forward last week…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Increasing Allied Health Professionals in Primary and Community Care
Can I thank the Minister for her statement today? I genuinely welcome the announcement today. I certainly support the increased funding for the number of allied health professionals within the primary and community care settings. I certainly think that’s the…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
First Minister, in December, less than 40 per cent of life-threatening calls received an ambulance response time within your Government's eight-minute target—a record low. And if that isn't a crisis, then I wonder what is a crisis. But, given the pressure on…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 6
So, in terms of transformation, what would be your message? What would be your ask of Government? What should Government be doing that they're not doing now?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 6
I know. It's a big question, but I'm asking for the pinpoints.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 6
Yes, very quickly, I won't ask you all, but I'll just ask, perhaps, Darren, then. In terms of change in the Welsh NHS, for years we've heard about transformation and the need for transformation, and my concern is we don't really see the impact of that…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 6
Thank you, Alwyn. I can see in your evidence, as well, that you've talked about an urgent focus on parity of esteem with health in relation to pay, terms and conditions and career progression, and then you go on to say that this requires additional investment…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 6
Thank you. And a question to you, Alwyn, about the increase in the real living wage up to £10.90. Just to understand, will the additional cost be met from the funding within the provisional local government settlement, and if not, how are you able to…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 6
Thank you, both. And then—sorry.
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 6
Can you both quantify the level of agency spend in your organisations, or in your sectors?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 6
So, just to be clear on that, what do you think needs to happen? What barrier needs to be removed?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 6
Yes, I suppose, because we're limited for time, I'll assume that we're all agreeing—the Minister will agree; we'll probably all agree—we'll all agree that we need to reduce the spend on agency staff. Tell us specifically, as briefly as you can, to all…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 6
Yes, that's fine. And just to talk about spend on agency staff, a significant issue that we've talked about—we haven't mentioned that so far here, but I'm bringing in all of the witnesses on this question really, but what practical things can be done to…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 6
Yes, the question is, I suppose, then: when you've asked the Government when you can expect, from them, to see a workforce plan, what do they say to you?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 6
When do you think we'll have sight of a workforce plan?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 6
I don't know if anybody else wants to come in, but before they do, Darren, just to you: the Minister, in her evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee, actually, talked about focusing on ways to deploy the existing and future workforce more…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 6
Is there anything in the draft budget, Darren, that you think needs to change, or that later, the committee needs to challenge the Minister on?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 6
Thank you, Chair. We talked a lot about workforce already, and some of the issues around recruitment and retention of staff. But looking at the draft budget specifically ahead of us, what measures are included in the draft budget to specifically address…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 6
I suppose what I was trying to get out is do you have a sense, if the Government has got priorities, that something else has got to give. Do you feel that you've got from the Government an understanding of what has to give in order to make the other areas…
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 6
I suppose, almost, if everything that is a priority for you is in the Government's priorities, what's the point of having priorities?
, Finance Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2023-24: Evidence session 6
Thank you, Chair, and thanks, Darren, for your answer. I suppose if you're clear on what the Welsh Government say their priorities are, as you've outlined, are you clear what is not a priority, or what is a lesser priority for the Welsh Government?
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Management of NHS pressures
Can I thank Plaid Cymru for tabling this motion today, and as Welsh Conservatives we'll be supporting the motion as it's tabled? The health service is in crisis, and they are serious words. When you are declaring a health crisis in Wales, they are serious…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Update on meeting with NHS trade unions
Can I thank you, Minister, for your statement this afternoon? You are in a very difficult position; that's something I would accept. And I appreciate how tough these negotiations are for you, Minister; it's not easy at all. And it is regrettable, as you will…
