Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I thank Members for their contributions this afternoon? I absolutely understand the strength of feeling in the Chamber in the light of the immense pressures that we're facing in the Welsh ambulance service, but also in the wider NHS and care service at the moment. I'd like to add my thanks for the incredible efforts of those people who are battling away on...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Formally.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: May I thank Siân from Plaid Cymru for accepting the regulations? We know that there is huge pressure on our hospitals at the moment, and, of course, there is an additional effort now for us to go about ensuring that the vaccine is extended in terms of the booster, and vaccinating children between 12 and 16 years of age. In terms of COVID passes, we are eager, if we can, to keep the situation...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Diolch yn fawr—thank you very much. I'm very aware of the situation. Of course, today we are focused on the regulations, but I am happy to just say a few words on the social care situation. I can tell you that we are acutely aware of the stresses and the strains that the social care sector is undergoing at the moment. That is why we are determined to make sure that we pay a huge amount of...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you very much, Llywydd. I move the motions in front of us. The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No.5) (Wales) Regulations 2020 set out the legislative framework for four warning levels that are outlined in the coronavirus control plan. As noted in the regulations, a review must be undertaken every three weeks. In the review on 14 July, it was noted that cases of the...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Diolch yn fawr, Janet, and I met with a constituent recently also who had a similar situation. Of course, there were examples where what happened before was that those people were sent into secondary care. What we've been trying to do is to move some of this support out into other areas. So, for example, I know there was a case in Crymych, for example, where they tried to develop an...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Diolch yn fawr, Jenny. I'm glad you agree with our move to primary care, and you're absolutely right, this is all about 'A Healthier Wales', it's delivering on what we set out, and it's about the transformation of our services. What we're doing now in terms of those optometrists who have those higher qualifications that we're encouraging constantly to work at the top of their licence, is that...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Diolch yn fawr, Peredur, and thanks very much, and I think you’re absolutely right to draw attention to the fact that there have been a lot of missed appointments during the pandemic, and that could be storing up issues for the future. One of the things that we’d like to do is, by moving this care from secondary into primary—it means that people can get that support closer to home,...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Diolch yn fawr, Russell. It is true, of course, that there has undoubtedly been a reduction in terms of the number of eye tests carried out. That is not surprising in light of the fact that actually for lots of months of the year lots of society was closed down. What I'm acutely aware of is that there is huge pressure on our NHS services at the moment and particularly in our hospitals. So,...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: The pandemic caused whole-system disruption to health services. However, it provided the opportunity, in the wake of the pandemic, to redesign service delivery, ensuring sustainable models for the future. Therefore, with people starting to feel more confident about accessing care outside hospital settings, we now, more than ever, need to adopt a shared care model in providing eye health care....
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Diolch yn fawr. 'The Future Approach for Optometry Services in Wales', published in March, is ambitious and it's transformative, changing the way eye health services are delivered. Aligned to 'A Healthier Wales', and underpinned by the key principles of prudent healthcare, the approach supports our overall aims, which are: to improve access for citizens; to move delivery of services from...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: We need to have designated carers for defibrillators—people who can look after them to ensure that they work properly. At the moment, only a little under 50 per cent of defibrillators have been registered and have maintenance people in place to ensure that the batteries and pads are regularly tested. So, it is a complex scenario—there's no point simply installing these machines. Recently,...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Well, I'm certainly happy to take a look at that. I think that the fact that we have put considerable additional resources in over this summer, I hope, will go some way towards reaching a target. I'm happy to look at a target because I do think that it's important that people keep our feet to the fire in this area. So, I am happy to look at that. What's interesting is that, actually, there...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Diolch yn fawr iawn. I'd like to thank Members for the thoughtful contributions that they have made today, and in particular, thank Darren Millar and Gareth for introducing this really important issue. Genuinely, there is consensus within this Chamber that this is a really important matter, and certainly there is cross-party support for this. I think that we are all united in the need to do...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Formally.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Diolch yn fawr, Laura. I'm delighted that we are going to, hopefully, be able to keep more of our children in school. We're intensely aware of the fact that for a child, if they lose six months of schooling, then they will, over the course of their lifetime, be likely to lose about £37,000 in terms of earnings. So, there's a direct impact on these children, and I just think it's really...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Well, thank you very much. I'm aware that a number of the health boards have now restricted visitors. I'm very pleased to see that there are exceptions, and that people do have a right to attend the birth, and I have to say that that is already an exception. I think that, of course, is very important. And I understand too that people are looking at the stadium, but the stadium is an outdoor...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thanks very much, James. And I acknowledge that there is real pressure on the ambulance service at the moment, but, no, I wouldn't describe it as a crisis at the moment. I think it's really important for us to understand that the pressures are very much intense. The issue, of course—. I'm very understanding of the fact that there are 620,000 operations that need to be carried out in Wales....
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Diolch yn fawr. Thank you, Jane, and lovely to see you back, as it is to see so many people back, and it's great to see a few more people in the Chamber. I would like to extend my thanks, as you've extended yours, to the incredible vaccination teams we have, up and down the country, who have done a truly magnificent job, and I hope they're all ready to go at it again with the enthusiasm that...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you very much. I can confirm that, whatever the decision taken this week in Cabinet, I’m sure vaccine passports will remain on the table. If we don’t progress with them, they will remain an option for the future. We’ve yet to come to a decision. It is a difficult decision. I’m pleased that you agree with us in terms of the decision on boosters and vaccinations for 12 to...
