Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the questions and comments. To start, I will deal with the comments you make about the organisation of the health board. I think it's often a tempting answer to suggest that reorganisation will deliver improvement in services, and anyone who wishes to run that argument—and there are arguments to be made; it isn't my view—will need to explain how that organisation would run...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you. The chair of the health board announced yesterday that the chief executive will be leaving the organisation. Decisions about employment matters are for the health board and its chair to make.
Vaughan Gething: Well, indeed. And some of the drivers in the conversation have been about the predictions on the demographics of the population, which were talked about at the start of devolution. And I recognise there are a number of original Members in the room now, but it's a topic that's been going on, a conversation about what that means in terms of public services. And we're seeing that pressure in the...
Vaughan Gething: I'll just deal with the last point first. The research that we've had done, we're going to publish all of it fully before Easter and we expect then for the final to-ing and fro-ing between civil servants and LE Wales to allow us to do that. It will show the range of different assumptions that you make, from the most optimistic about the most minimal level of increase, that's where you get the...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the series of comments and questions. I don't want to be overly unkind, but there are a number of factual challenges in the statements that were made by the Conservative spokesperson. It is, of course, the case that Jeremy Corbyn is not the Prime Minister. Labour didn't win the last election. We got a real shoeing at the last election; there's now a Conservative UK Government....
Vaughan Gething: In previous debates, we've all recognised the amazing work done by social care staff up and down the country, delivering vital care in our communities. We've discussed the need to drive up the quality of care and the vital role it plays in helping people to live quality lives, independently, in settings that meet their needs and expectations. Social care free at the point of need is an...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you for the opportunity to update the Chamber on the work of the inter-ministerial group on paying for social care. There is broad concern over the quality and sustainability of social care, both here in Wales and across the wider United Kingdom. If we are to have a meaningful conversation about the future of social care, then we have to consider...
Vaughan Gething: I certainly recognise the last point you made. There are people who are genuinely fearful about change being proposed of this kind, and it is important that the health board are entirely open and honest about what they're proposing and why, and that people involved in the delivery of the service are actively part of that conversation with each other, with their health board leaders and...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for those questions. I think there is a challenge about the service model the health board propose and that they will actively consider with stakeholders. Because one of the possible options that they set out is about reduced consultant cover, but having minor injuries provision instead. And there's a challenge about the public understanding the range of minor injuries services that...
Vaughan Gething: I recognise the point that Members across parties are making, and I reiterate that the challenge here is to understand how we have a genuinely safe service that is available for constituents across the country, and what that means in terms of either trying to change a service model, where people regularly say that they're concerned about the safety of changing that model, but, equally, the...
Vaughan Gething: Well, thank you for the questions, but the truth is, if you've read through the paper from the executive medical director about the challenges they face, he sets out that, if anything, the reasons and the rationale behind the programme have grown in number as opposed to receded. And I just don't accept that every indicator suggests that changing the footprint of services at this hospital will...
Vaughan Gething: Well, I think it's important to set out that the safety of the service is the first priority for the people who work in, run and deliver, and have responsibility for the service—from myself to the chief executive, to the medical director, to front-line staff. And the paper that the board will be considering tomorrow, in the name of the medical director, sets out the risks that exist, and...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. As you know, the health board is responsible for the provision of safe and sustainable healthcare for its local population, including timely access to emergency care services for those who need it.
Vaughan Gething: Well, I think that it's important to maintain a sense of perspective. We are taking this seriously, we're not being complacent, but we don't want to have a reaction that sends people into a wave of panic. We've taken specific measures together across the four Governments of the United Kingdom. As I said, there's no party political side to this. These are the four Governments acting as...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the comments and questions. The ability to communicate between European countries on public health matters is something that was talked about during the last three years or so and we'll still need to work through how we'll maintain the best possible public protection system. There are challenges in place around that. I think that today, though, and for the current position, it...
Vaughan Gething: Yes, in terms of most of the treatment, that's part of a network of work across the UK, both within Wales and outside, where people would be treated should they test positive. It's also worth pointing out that every single person tested in the United Kingdom to date has tested negative. So, we don't have a confirmed case anywhere within the United Kingdom, but I think in terms of the...
Vaughan Gething: On the last point, I'm happy to confirm that, of course, regular updates will be provided, where necessary by me, but there'll be regular updates through the chief medical officer's department about steps that are being taken. I think, in terms of people entering the United Kingdom, those are matters that are outside the control of this Government. You will have seen that there are direct...
Vaughan Gething: Yes. NHS Wales has plans in place to protect the health of the public. Specific guidance on the identification, isolation and testing for this virus has been communicated to all of our front-line staff. UK health Ministers, chief medical officers and public health agencies across the four nations are co-ordinating action together.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'd like to thank members of the Health, Social Care and Sport committee for their work in producing the 'Mental health in policing and police custody' report. It's important to acknowledge the role of the police in helping people in mental health crisis. In many cases, the police are the first point of contact and the support that they provide to some of...
Vaughan Gething: The new 'Together for Mental Health' delivery plan, which will be published on Friday this week, positions preventing suicide and self-harm as a key action, making it a priority for the next three years. Actions include the development and implementation of a bereavement support pathway for suicide, as well as a commitment to further improve access to valuable resources, such as the 'Help is...
