Written question WQ100868
- Asked by
- Gareth ThomasReform
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 11 days
Question
How will the Welsh Government ensure that the voices of mental health service users and carers are properly heard and meaningfully involved by local health boards and local authorities when planning and delivering mental health services?
Answer
Answered by Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health (Nerys Evans)
The Programme for Government includes our commitment to improve the effectiveness of services through the voices of those with lived experience. The Quality Statement for Mental Health outlines the planning expectations for the delivery of mental health services in Wales and is clear about the importance of lived experience in shaping our services. To support implementation and drive improvement, the Quality Management System, as set out in the Duty of Quality (2023), will be applied in all parts of the system.
The Strategic Programme for Mental Health is embedding the voice of lived experience throughout its work and including the Open Access Mental Health Support Model to ensure services reflect what matters most to the people who use them. This work is informed by the People’s Experience Framework which emphasises that listening to people’s experiences is a core requirement under multiple duties and legislative frameworks.
National guidance produced by the Wales Mental Health and Wellbeing Forum further highlights the importance of creating meaningful opportunities for people with lived experience to influence decisions at every level.