Vaughan Gething: I thank the Member for the points that he’s made, which largely restate points made by other Members in terms of the questions. I’m happy to indicate again that the health board indicate it’s their option to have a temporary change in the service to reflect the fact that they’re not able to provide all of the consultant cover for the model of care to be provided safely for children...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Presiding Officer. I visited Mbale in Uganda during the half-term recess as part of the celebrations of the tenth anniversary of the Welsh Government’s Wales for Africa programme. The programme has supported and encouraged people in Wales to make a difference in sub-Saharan Africa. Whilst people from Wales have active partnerships in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, probably the...
Vaughan Gething: I thank Darren Millar for his positive and constructive comments about this programme. Of course, I do recall the aftermath of one of his visits to South Africa, when he returned with a notable injury. I think many of us enjoyed the sight of him with his leg in the air in a wheelchair rather more than he did. But you’re right, in particular—to take your first broad point about the role of...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the comments and questions, and an invitation to take advantage of the First Minister not being in the Chamber. I'll decline the opportunity to try and set policy on the fly. This is, as you know, quite properly the remit of the First Minister in terms of external engagement from Wales. But, look, in terms of where we are as a Government, I think we've been really clear that,...
Vaughan Gething: I thank the Member for her points and questions. From the health perspective, it’s about maintaining the links we have and what we then want to build on, because this is not a programme with a huge budget attached to it. Much of what is actually achieved is achieved with a very small amount of money. Much of it is actually the knowledge transfer and equipping people to make their own...
Vaughan Gething: I thank the Member for raising that for particular attention. I’ll start with your point on special leave. These are, broadly, public servants who go out and undertake these international learning opportunities—not just public servants, though. As I was leaving, a new group came in, and one was a counsellor who had taken time out of their public duties to go, and another was from the...
Vaughan Gething: Yes, I’m happy to recognise and support the comments that the Member makes, not just because I’m a Labour and Co-operative Assembly Member, but many people across the Chamber in different parties are active supporters of fair trade, and not just at Fairtrade Fortnight, both in the individual choices we make about goods that we buy and use, and you’re right to point to coffee as a...
Vaughan Gething: Formally, Chair.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I’m happy to respond to today’s debate, and begin by acknowledging the comments already made, that earlier diagnosis of cancer will allow for that less aggressive and less expensive treatment, and, in particular, improved patient experience, but also quality of life that, crucially, should lead to better outcomes. But I don’t agree with the central...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I’m happy to move the motion on the order paper and at the outset confirm that the Government is also happy to support the amendment tabled. Now, each year, as Members will know, the Chief Medical Officer for Wales sets out an independent overview of health and well-being issues facing the nation. I’m pleased to lead this debate to mark the...
Vaughan Gething: The eight recommendations in the report, aimed at NHS organisations, their partners, and the Welsh Government and education providers, reflect a life-course approach, with the latest research, including Welsh publications and evidence, and that emphasis on prevention and early intervention. They also call for innovation and the need for ongoing research into new models of care. There are...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Presiding Officer. I’m grateful to Members for taking part in today’s debate—a very consensual debate in many ways, with similar concerns and an expression of similar challenges that we know that we all face in different communities in pretty much every part of the country. I want to start by dealing with issues raised in the amendment and in the contribution from Rhun ap...
Vaughan Gething: It’s exactly the reason why we’re investing in our community pharmacy network, and it’s why we’re rolling out extra investment in that IT platform and expecting them to do more. Now, that’s an open conversation we’re having and I’m generally pleased that there’s not just a pharmaceutical committee, but the role of Community Pharmacy Wales being genuinely open-minded about the...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would like to thank Members for tabling a debate on this topic, so we can discuss the reality of cross-border treatment for patients between England and Wales. The Welsh Government, of course, has been keen to ensure that the approach to cross-border patient flows is sensible and pragmatic and to focus on providing the best care for all of those who need...
Vaughan Gething: The Ruabon surgery has given notice to the health board that it will terminate its contract on 31 March 2017. The health board, which is responsible for the provision of healthcare services, has written to patients to assure them that the surgery will not be closing, and services will continue.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. There are a number of practices that are in the direct management of health boards. It represents less than 5 per cent of the total number of GP practices, which is comparable with the situation in Scotland. There has been a small increase over the last year or two. We recognise there are very real challenges for the future of primary care, and we recognise that,...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the series of questions. I don’t accept your opening gambit that surgery after surgery are handing back the keys as if there is a widespread movement. More than 95 per cent of practices are still managing themselves. To suggest otherwise is to overplay it in a manner that does not get borne out by the facts. The overwhelming majority of primary care and GP services are...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. It is important that the cause of non-respiratory sleep disorders is identified early as there can be a wide range of underlying issues ranging from diet, neurological disorders, psychiatric disorders or more. The underlying cause will determine where the condition is best managed, but primary care will be the starting point for management.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the follow-up question. I’m sure that all of us at some point in our lives will suffer some sort of challenge with our sleep. Most of them, though, do pass, as I’m sure you know, with a houseful of young children. But, in terms of the particular disorders and the wider challenges, we know that narcolepsy is a particular challenge, not just on sleep but in daily life. There...
Vaughan Gething: I think there are two issues you raise in your question. The first is the point about treating the underlying cause, so whether that’s different forms of activity, and where there is a mental health challenge that leads to people having a sleep problem in the first place. The second, then, is what happens afterwards in terms of the treatment, and I think the Aneurin Bevan centre is a good...
