Vaughan Gething: The challenge comes with a 'no deal' Brexit and our ability to prepare for the possibility that the United Kingdom crashes out of the European Union at the end of March next year. I don't think I should try to provide false reassurance that all will be well. For every Government, though, in the UK, it is in every Government's interests to make sure that we do all that we can. So, this is...
Vaughan Gething: There are real practical conversations going on between every health department from every nation within the UK, and on this, actually, it's an issue where I and the Scottish health secretary have written to Matt Hancock seeking a meeting to try and put some of the politics aside and to have a practical, face-to-face conversation about what each of us can do. I've yet to have a positive...
Vaughan Gething: Yes. We recognise there are challenges but remain committed to supporting our hard-working GPs and their practice teams throughout Wales. Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board has recently appointed a new executive director of primary care and community services, Dr Chris Stockport, and he will lead and oversee the adoption and adaptation of the primary care model for Wales across the...
Vaughan Gething: There is always a challenge in linking population growth and housing development with the provision of a range of services including healthcare services. We'll have the same practical challenge in delivering Wylfa Newydd as well. It's a challenge and it's about a conversation with local general practice themselves, but also the wider team as well. The health board are developing a north Wales...
Vaughan Gething: The way in which we allocate finance across the service is to try and meet current and future needs. In particular, we're investing in a healthier Wales, and I've made it very clear that as activity is moved around our health and care system, I expect resources to be moved around to enable that to happen. If we look at the broader definition of primary care for all those different primary...
Vaughan Gething: Yes, I'm happy to do so. By the end of October, the new treatment fund had provided patients throughout Wales with faster access to 146 new medicines for a wide range of medical conditions. The average time taken to make medicine available is now 17 days. That is a reduction of 81 per cent.
Vaughan Gething: Yes. I am aware of the availability of the new treatment. I don't actually think it's specifically an area for the new treatment fund, but I will, nevertheless, look into the differences that you've outlined between north and south Wales, and I'll happily come back and report to Members when I'm in a position to do so.
Vaughan Gething: Mark Drakeford.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. Cwm Taf Local Health Board is working in partnership with Interserve on the refurbishment of Prince Charles Hospital. The Welsh Government monitors the project in consultation with the health board.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the questions. On the slightly mischievous suggestion that there should be a ban on future contracts, well, we'll take a prudent approach to anybody bidding for a future contract within the national health service or any other major capital challenge where the Welsh Government is seeking to award a contract. And, obviously, the challenges around the financial health of this...
Vaughan Gething: 'Yes' is the simple answer, because I've actually discussed this matter yesterday with the chief executive of NHS Wales, so this is a matter that was on my mind before the topical question, because I am obviously concerned to make sure that the works are safe and that there is adequate monitoring of the risks and that risks are still acceptable, both to the public purse and obviously the...
Vaughan Gething: To be fair, I think the responses that have been given today, and indeed the information provided directly by the local Member in setting up her questions, reinforce that this is not a new contract, this is a contract that was awarded several months ago. It is a contract on which the health board has already looked again at the potential risks involved in continuing with the work or not...
Vaughan Gething: Apologies.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and my apologies for being stuck in another meeting, when I thought the clock had plenty of time, and it did not, and I apologise to Members who have been waiting for the debate to start. But I am pleased to have this opportunity to open the debate and move the motion on the paper, centring upon Professor Gerry Holtham's report on paying for social care....
Vaughan Gething: We have made enormous progress in improving healthcare and tackling illness, which is helping us to live longer. Equally, we're making significant improvement in the provision of social care, taking forward the approach set out in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. The nature of social care in Wales today seeks to be co-productive, based on what matters to people, by...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Llywydd, and I'd like to start by thanking Members for their contributions this afternoon. Today's discussion has helped to continue, if not open, a debate that we do need to have on paying for social care. And our aim in bringing this debate today is twofold: to continue to identify the issues and implications in respect of options for the long-term financing of social care costs...
Vaughan Gething: Patients flow across administrative boundaries every day in Wales and England. Local health boards in Wales work with clinical commissioning groups in England to ensure the provision of high-quality healthcare for their local populations.
Vaughan Gething: 'A Healthier Wales’ is the Welsh Government’s first joint health and social care plan and sets out a long-term future vision of a whole-system approach focused on providing joined-up services in community settings, including more emphasis on preventative services and on maintaining health and well-being.
Vaughan Gething: Welsh Government recognises the health benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies and is committed to promoting its uptake and providing support to mothers who choose to breastfeed. A national programme is implementing the recommended actions from the review published in May 2018, focused on improving breastfeeding rates in maternity and early years settings.
Vaughan Gething: We continue to work with health boards and Health Education and Improvement Wales on recruitment and retention challenges, with short, medium and long-term action. This includes our successful Train Work Live campaign, increasing medical school places and working to ensure more Welsh students study to become healthcare professionals.
