Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Minister. Through written Assembly questions, I have unearthed an alarming fact about the number of nurses in Wales: 4,727 have left the Welsh NHS since 2016/17. And get this: in 2018/19, there were more leavers than joiners. We need more registered nurses to deliver care, and as the Royal College of Nursing in Wales has advised, this requires a focus on both recruitment and...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. The purpose of this debate is to trigger a conversation about how we can do more to care for our care homes in Wales. And I'd like to invite Jayne Bryant AM and Angela Burns AM to speak for a minute or so. Over 15,000 people aged 65 or over live in a care home. According to the state of the nation report launched yesterday, the average age at which an older...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Now, when visiting these homes, I have seen the passion that staff have for looking after their patients and residents, and have been pleased to listen how they—the people working in the sector—think we could do more to care for care homes. This brings me to the first way through which we could champion care homes: communication. Dementia is a condition that affects linguistic ability, so...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I have to be honest, I was actually quite cynical in the early days when you were bringing the free bus passes in. I thought, 'They'll never afford it.' And do you know what? I have to take my hat off to the Welsh Government because I think it's one of the best policies you've brought forward. [Interruption.] But it's actually been a victim of its own...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Yes, yes, yes.
Janet Finch-Saunders: Everybody else has had a preamble, so I—
Janet Finch-Saunders: Right. Over a third of older people do not make personal use of the internet. So, one of the concerns I have with the renewing of the bus passes—this was also raised last Tuesday with the older people's commissioner—so what is your Government doing to actually help those who haven't managed to renew their new bus pass? What are you doing to actually help them if they're not actually...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Okay. Here we go. Question 2: the fact that 92 per cent of people asked agreed that having a bus pass allows them to be independent and that 81 per cent believe that their quality of life would suffer without one. In your statement, you confirmed there is plenty of time to apply for the new card. Given the time loss, will you actually extend the length of time? You said a month; I actually...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Will the First Minister make a statement on mental health services in north Wales?
Janet Finch-Saunders: Minister, over many years, I've been becoming quite concerned at the number of cases taken by trading standards against our farmers, who end up in court simply for the case to fall. An allegation that a farmer—this is in north Wales—took an unreasonable time to dispose of carcasses was dropped. A case against three farmers and their management of a flock of Welsh mountain sheep went to...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 3. Will the Counsel General make a statement on the work of the Commission on Justice in Wales? OAQ54513
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch. The Commission on Justice in Wales has published its recommendation regarding the law council for Wales. Its intended aims are to be commended, especially the promoting of assisting students in their education and training as future practitioners. The details of the proposed council highlight that it will help Welsh law schools to provide their students with the necessary education...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 4. What discussions has the Counsel General had with Cabinet colleagues about developing legislative proposals to deliver safe speed limits across Wales? OAQ54514
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. Well, I, for one, on behalf of my constituents in Aberconwy, was really pleased to hear the First Minister make that commitment because it's a big issue in my mailbox currently. Welsh Government guidance 'Setting Local Speed Limits in Wales' has a major influence, obviously, on speed-limit decisions when considering the provision of a speed limit or modifications in a rural area....
Janet Finch-Saunders: Thank you. I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond to this statement on behalf of the Welsh Conservatives group. I'm grateful to have received advanced view of the statement, and I know that my colleague Angela Burns AM was grateful for the technical briefing that you arranged recently. Can I start by welcoming the statement? It is an essential Bill and it is important that it has...
Janet Finch-Saunders: 2. Will the Commission explain how the money allocated to promoting awareness and understanding of the work of the National Assembly for Wales in the 2019-20 budget is being allocated? OAQ54542
Janet Finch-Saunders: Diolch, Llywydd. According to the 2019-20 budget, the priority projects for this financial year, of course, are based on the organisational priorities, including the provision of increasing engagement with the people of Wales and using our resources wisely. Having considered the budget, I note that £311,000 was allocated to promoting awareness and understanding of work. Similarly, around the...
Janet Finch-Saunders: Minister, I do actually acknowledge the work that you have undertaken to digitalise some patient records through the Welsh community care information system. However, serious problems do remain. During a recent meeting of elected Members in north Wales with the health board, there was unanimous support for the need to take action to address the fact that hospitals are simply not able to...
Janet Finch-Saunders: I would like to thank Lynne Neagle AM for her leadership as our chairman of the CYPE committee, the preparation of this report and also for introducing it here today. She has hit the nail on the head: there is simply not enough money going into the Welsh education system, and certainly not enough finding its way into our schools. Now, of course, since the publication of this...
Janet Finch-Saunders: The latest data shows, First Minister, that 335 individuals waited over 56 days from referral to a local primary mental health support services assessment. Now, this is the highest number on record since the start of the fifth Assembly in May 2016. Now, sadly, around a third of the people waiting over 56 days for assessment fall within Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, and I can tell...
