Caroline Jones: Thank you for your statement, Cabinet Secretary. Neurological conditions affect tens of thousands of people in Wales and this latest delivery plan will hopefully build upon the improvements made to the services designed to assist those people. While a number of neurological conditions present at birth, a large number can present at any time in life. It is therefore important that we raise...
Caroline Jones: I’d like to thank the Welsh Conservatives for bringing forward this motion today. The Welsh Government’s national strategy aims to improve the health and well-being of Wales. Like the Welsh Conservatives, I am disappointed there are no clear, measurable targets for the health service. I welcome the ambition behind the Welsh Government’s strategy, but without clear, measurable outcomes,...
Caroline Jones: What action is the Welsh Government taking to tackle age discrimination in Wales?
Caroline Jones: First Minister, an independent patient voice is vital, particularly for those who can’t make themselves heard. We have made huge progress in providing advocates for people with mental health issues, but patient advocacy services are also vital to people with dementia. There have been calls for every person with dementia to have access to a skilled and independent advocate who understands...
Caroline Jones: What plans does the Cabinet Secretary have to review the governance structures within the NHS?
Caroline Jones: Cabinet Secretary, as we discovered in the health committee, young people in Wales who study medicine in Wales are more likely to stay in Wales, which is why it is vitally important that we improve medical education opportunities in north Wales. Not only do we have a shortage of doctors and nurses in Wales, but we also have a massive shortage of radiologists. Cabinet Secretary, what is your...
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, October is breast cancer awareness month and to mark the occasion Breast Cancer Now have published a new report looking at the breast cancer patient pathway, and makes recommendations to improve patient outcomes. We’re now making progress in improving breast cancer survival rates. Both one-year and five-year survival rates have increased by 1.7 per cent...
Caroline Jones: Thank you for your answer, Cabinet Secretary. One of the biggest improvements we can make to breast cancer care—and the whole purpose of the awareness month—is to make the public aware of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Detecting breast cancer early improves your chances of survival, as I know from personal experience. I’m now in my tenth year following breast cancer and I owe...
Caroline Jones: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. We all know that prevention is better than cure. While we can and are taking action to tackle some of the risk factors associated with breast cancer, Breast Cancer Now highlight the fact that we can’t tackle the biggest risk factors: being a woman and getting older. We can, however, take action to reduce the risk of breast cancer spreading to other parts of the...
Caroline Jones: Cabinet Secretary, whilst it’s disappointing that Jaguar Land Rover have decided to bring their engine production in-house, there were no guarantees that Ford would have won the contract when it was to be renewed in December 2020. So, we have two and a half years to be positive and to find additional contracts for the Bridgend plant. What we don’t need now is the threat of strike action....
Caroline Jones: I’d like to thank Plaid Cymru for bringing about this debate and the opportunity to speak in it. I agree with the sentiment behind this motion. Staff shortages within the NHS are detrimental to patient care. Not a day goes by when we aren’t confronted by news articles outlining the impact that staff shortages are having on NHS Wales. We have seen a 400 per cent increase in the number of...
Caroline Jones: I will in a minute—is unsustainable and I urge the Welsh Government to plan for greater use of staff banks. With these points in mind, UKIP will be supporting the motion as well as the Welsh Conservative amendment. We will be abstaining on the Welsh Government’s amendment as it does recognise the impact shortages have on our dedicated NHS staff, but fails to address the issue. I’d also...
Caroline Jones: She wanted an intervention.
Caroline Jones: No, no, she wanted an intervention.
Caroline Jones: I have. We will be supporting Plaid’s amendment—
Caroline Jones: I did give you an intervention.
Caroline Jones: Thank you for your statement, Cabinet Secretary. No-one in the Chamber would disagree with the overarching principles of your plan, which include improving patient experience whilst keeping the costs of care to a reasonable level. And in this respect, the 1000 Lives improvement to help Welsh Government and NHS wales establish sustainable services and improved patient experience in planned...
Caroline Jones: Thank you for your statement, Minister. The 1000 Lives campaign has shown what is possible when we are united in the pursuit of a single aim—an aim of improving each patient’s experience of the care they receive. The enthusiasm and commitment of healthcare teams is highly admirable. Working together by following an evidence-based approach, they have continued to produce positive results...
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Gadeirydd. I’m pleased to move the motion before you today. Before I entered politics, I was a small business owner, operating businesses on the high street in Bridgend and Porthcawl, and I experienced at first hand the challenges facing businesses on our high streets. The motion tabled by my colleagues and me seeks to mitigate some of these challenges. We are calling for the Welsh...
Caroline Jones: Would you take an intervention?
