Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: This year, the pressure on the health and social care system has been absolutely relentless. The direct and indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has made it extremely difficult for dedicated front-line staff. And this winter may, again, be the most challenging in the history of the NHS, with the ongoing demands of the pandemic and increased demands for other health services—the impact...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Formally.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I will.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I absolutely don't. What I do know is that people in the NHS who have been working hard throughout this pandemic deserve their 3 per cent pay award and it should have come from the UK Government. Instead, what we've had to do is to find that money from within the budgets we had here already. That effectively means that we've had to cut other areas because we wanted to make sure that we...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'd like to thank Plaid Cymru for choosing this topic for debate today, because it allows me to reiterate the view of the Welsh Government on this important topic. Now, the last 18 months have been relentless. The pandemic continues to have a significant impact on patients and staff, and I would today like to pay tribute and ask Members to recognise the...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Formally.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. I want to be clear that the Welsh Labour Government has not suggested the introduction of this measure lightly; it has been challenging for us, because we wanted to think through very carefully what were the practical, what were the legal, what were the ethical implications of introducing a pass of this type. But we understand our public health responsibilities, and...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. I move the motion before us. The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No.5) (Wales) Regulations 2020 put in place the legislative framework for the alert levels described in the coronavirus control plan. Officials are working hard to update the current control plan to cover the autumn and winter period. Across Wales we’ve recently seen transmission of...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thanks very much, Altaf. Certainly, I think it's fair to say that there is an understanding, of course, that maternity services are a priority not just for the local community, but also for the health board. It is one of the key areas that is the responsibility of the NHS—to make sure that babies are delivered safely. Of course, like other services, there has been a loss of momentum as a...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thanks, Vikki. I know how much work you've done on behalf of so many of those people who have come forward explaining how they have been affected by this. Certainly, I am very aware of the pressures that the staff in Cwm Taf are already under. Staff across the whole of the NHS are under huge pressure, and I'm told that there's a COVID baby bounce going on as well, so the pressures are even...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Well, thank you very much to the Member and I'm very sorry to hear about your personal experience in Cwm Taf and, certainly, you're one of many who has suffered over this very difficult period when things were in a very poor condition. I think that this statement answers, and the report answers, that question that you asked, 'Why did so many die?', and there are answers here in terms of why...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thanks, Russell. I think we're all clear that this was not the finest hour for maternity services in Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board. And I, like you, was quite shocked by some of those quotes from the women who had suffered in this way, and they really hit you hard. And you're absolutely right, and I think the one that you picked up was also one that I felt we absolutely need to take on...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: In addition to the focus on neonatal and maternity services, the health board has also continued to improve its quality governance arrangements and is striving to develop a learning, open and transparent culture. This builds on the recommendations of the quality governance review undertaken by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and Audit Wales and their latest assessment of progress. A range of...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I appreciate how difficult it is for those affected to have to wait for the results of the inquiry, but, unfortunately, the pace of the process has been impacted due to increased operational commitments of the clinical reviewers, as well as the health board's team, due to the impact of COVID-19 on service delivery. I understand that the neonatal reviews are more complex, and it is essential...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: This has been the most challenging of times for the Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board, and the progress report on maternity services highlights the impact the pandemic has had on its ability to maintain pace in securing improvement. That said, I am sure that we're all encouraged by the panel's confirmation that, despite this, the health board has continued to make incremental progress in...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you very much, Llywydd. Earlier today, I published the two latest reports by the independent maternity services oversight panel. I am very grateful to them for the role that they have continued to play over the past year and for their ongoing commitment to this work.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Now, whilst both I and the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being are challenging the health board to increase the pace of change in relation to mental health services—and both of us have brought this up with the health board on several occasions—I do recognise the impact that this level of scrutiny over so many years will have on staff morale. At the outset, I want to say on...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Diolch, Llywydd. Thanks for the opportunity to respond to this debate and to put on record my recognition of the commitment of the Betsi Cadwaladr health board to continue to improve mental health services.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thanks very much, Jack, and can I also pay tribute to the incredible work that our NHS workers have done during what is undoubtedly the most challenging time in the history of the NHS? We absolutely appreciate the work that they've done. In relation to NHS pay, then, of course, we had established, along with the unions, to look at the NHS review body and the doctors and dentists review body....
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: We all recognise that our health and social care workforce have been under acute, sustained pressure for an exceptional amount of time. We continue to work with partners across health and social care to ensure that we provide targeted funding and services to complement local workplace support.
