Vaughan Gething: There are a couple of points that I would mention. I recognise that, of course, the diagnostic workforce are crucial not just to cancer, but a range of other services, in making sure that people are appropriately diagnosed and put on the road to either the certainty that they don't have the potential condition, or indeed have the opportunity to start treatment at an appropriate point in...
Vaughan Gething: There are a couple of different points there. The first is that, of course, we've invested more than ever before on the future education and training of the non-medical workforce—£107 million that I announced—and, at a time of falling public resource, to continue to invest even more in the workforce and their future training is a significant choice to make. There is something about...
Vaughan Gething: There are two brief points I'd make, Llywydd. The first is that, even without Lee Waters in the room, I recognise that artificial intelligence is absolutely part of the future. It's part of today and it'll become more and more a planned part of the way in which we deliver health and care services. It should help us in assisting clinicians to make choices; it should make our pathways more...
Vaughan Gething: Well, the system was one that we introduced about two years ago, and, when you look at where we were at the start of the new response model to where we are now, there's been a real and significant improvement over that time. Comparing this winter to last winter, there has been a fall in performance of a couple of percentage points, but we're still meeting our targets. The challenge, though,...
Vaughan Gething: I have to say I'm incredibly disappointed with the remarks made at the start, claiming the whole system is broken. That simply is not true, and you should be embarrassed to say such a thing.
Vaughan Gething: I don't hide—[Interruption.] I don't hide from the challenges for our staff or citizens. To use such deliberately inflammatory language about our healthcare system I think really does not reflect well on you, Rhun ap Iorwerth. I don't hide from the individual challenges. On either of the points you make, I obviously can't comment on what happened in individual cases, but I will remind you...
Vaughan Gething: Well, I make no apology for saying the NHS is not broken. I make no apology for being offended by the way you have approached this issue. I've met—[Interruption.] I've met—[Interruption.] I have met paramedics through the worst of times. When I was appointed as a Deputy Minister for Health at that time and meeting paramedics at that time, they were angry and they were despondent. They...
Vaughan Gething: Yes. The Aneurin Bevan, Cwm Taf and Powys health boards, which cover a variety of urban, Valleys and rural areas of Wales, are looking to trial this style of pilot. They have been commissioned to pilot prototype neighbourhood district nursing teams building on the Buurtzorg model. They are currently working up their plans for these pilots, with the aim to start them early in the new financial...
Vaughan Gething: Yes, we're obviously interested in the Buurtzorg model and the application of that here in Wales. Officials are looking at the work in Scotland, where they're looking to implement—they're at a very early stage. In London, they're slightly more advanced, with some pilots being up and running. I do think that these are things that are consistent with the views set out in the parliamentary...
Vaughan Gething: I will, of course, be happy to update Members as we make more progress on the Buurtzorg-style pilots that the question started off with. In terms of the broader learning from the Neath Pacesetter, I had a very interesting visit there with both David Rees and Jeremy Miles as constituency representatives, looking at the variety of the work that they have in the hub that supports GPs...
Vaughan Gething: We invest almost £50 million a year in our substance misuse agenda, with the actions that we are taking highlighted in our latest substance misuse delivery plan. This includes supporting drug and alcohol rehabilitation services. These services are, of course, commissioned regionally by area planning boards, based on an assessment of local need.
Vaughan Gething: I had a meeting today at which part of this issue was covered—about the adequacy of NHS healthcare within the prison system. Of course, Parc we don't have oversight for because it's the nature of it being a private prison. Actually, the oversight there comes from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons. There is a challenge here also about recognising, once prisoners are released, their...
Vaughan Gething: I've visited the Kaleidoscope service, and I recognise the commitment of the staff there. Again, going back to some of the other issues that we've discussed, recovery is not a simple one-step journey. It will be different for different people. I recognise the parkrun. I won't be joining you—I'll make that clear—on Saturday, but there are a variety of different means to aid that recovery,...
Vaughan Gething: Well, it would be helpful if the Member could write to me with the detail that he's provided and I will happily look at it, because I do expect area planning boards to properly commission services and make sure that the need that we do have is properly met and, wherever possible, met within the most local setting. There may be times when specialist services are required outside of Wales, but...
Vaughan Gething: In January, 68.3 per cent of red calls in Powys received a response within eight minutes. The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust continues to work with the health board, the voluntary sector and fire and rescue service partners to improve responsiveness in rural areas like Powys where it can be more difficult to predict the focus of demand.
Vaughan Gething: Yes, I recognise the picture you're painting and the fact that, through this winter, we've had more people wait too long to receive a service, and I don't try to claim that that is acceptable at all. There's a challenge to understand what we need to do across our system to improve that, indeed including choices about capacity or not, but you highlight one of our challenges, which is lost...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you. Access to NHS dental care has improved significantly in recent years, although difficulties do remain in some areas. Health boards have budgets and responsibility for the provision of dental services and are working to address gaps in service provision through their operational plans.
Vaughan Gething: Over the last decade, we've actually seen 45,000 more NHS patients receiving NHS dental care in Hywel Dda. Our challenge is our ability to keep up with the pace of demand, and I do recognise there are real challenges, particularly around orthodontics, about which I know you've written to me on several occasions. I recognise that some people are waiting longer than they should, but we also...
Vaughan Gething: We will continue to work with Hywel Dda university health board to provide the people of Pembrokeshire with health services that deliver the best possible outcomes for patients. We will continue to be guided by the best and most up-to-date clinical evidence and advice to deliver that high-quality care.
Vaughan Gething: There are three points to make about your question. I understand the concern of Members of every party about any consultation on the future of health services within their area. On the specifics about what may or may not happen, I've had broad conversations with every health board, and on a national level as well. If you've had the pleasure or otherwise of listening to me make speeches...
