Vaughan Gething: I will take an intervention.
Vaughan Gething: I understand that points have been raised about people and where the evidence was taken, because it was a desktop review. My understanding also is, before finalising that report, there was a conversation with one of the people who was a whistleblower. But we’ll get through that with the HIW review, and, if there’s a need to look at our process again, with the learning that will come from...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you to Russell George for bringing this particular topic to the Chamber today, and it is one of those occasions where we are in broad agreement. Indeed, noting that you’ve had a presentation from Dylan Jones, who coincidentally—and I want to place on record my congratulations to him, belatedly, following his recognition at the Welsh Pharmacy Awards as the joint winner of community...
Vaughan Gething: I will, yes.
Vaughan Gething: Indeed. There is more for us to do about making sure we have a fully joined-up system. And there’s something about having a platform to allow the sharing of the record, and then having what are currently independent businesses having their own platforms that can actually talk consistently with them. As we continue to develop our digital platform within the health service, we do need to make...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. The Welsh Government invest almost £50 million a year in our substance misuse agenda. Our substance misuse delivery plan, going up to 2018, reaffirms this Government’s commitment to tackle substance misuse. It sets out the detailed actions we and our delivery partners are taking to prevent and respond to substance misuse amongst individuals and in communities...
Vaughan Gething: I recognise the concern behind the question, but, with respect, I don't think it's simply a question of the Government having discussions to try and reduce this matter, because there isn't a simple answer. The UK Government in 2015-16 passed the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, which introduced a blanket ban on a range of psychoactive substances, and that tries to take account of the fact...
Vaughan Gething: Again, I recognise the question. I refer to education in its broadest sense, because I don't think there's just an issue for the school system. It's an issue of partnerships between the third sector, between the police, between ourselves, and people in communities as well, and how we equip people with the best possible advice on the impact of the various substances that are available, but...
Vaughan Gething: I thank the Member for the question. We will continue to discuss not just doctor recruitment and doctor numbers, but all of our healthcare professionals and how they work together. I think it's a mistake to simply look at one group of professionals in isolation to others, as we progressively talk—[Interruption.]—as we progressively talk about, for example, changing the way in which...
Vaughan Gething: We have real and significant challenges, and it's pointless to pretend that we don't. I regularly say that, both in this Chamber, in private conversations with healthcare professionals, with Assembly Members, and in arenas where I give speeches and answer questions. And I think it's really important to be consistent and to be mature about this in the way I approach my job. That's why I...
Vaughan Gething: We've set out the position of this Government in relation to Brexit; we've set out the position that this Government takes in relation to wanting to have a more grown-up conversation with the United Kingdom Government about the realities of Brexit and the damage that it could do if it's pursued in its current shambolic form by the UK Government. I make no apologies...
Vaughan Gething: There are two things that I'll say. The first is that we think that we can manage some of the reduction without impacting on current research activity. It will affect some of our relationships within the United Kingdom architecture around health and care research, but we think that we can manage. But it means that there are things that we may not otherwise be able to do. The challenge,...
Vaughan Gething: Indeed. On pooled budgets, I indicated in health committee today that we need to take a pragmatic view about Bridgend's place in pooled budget arrangements. It would not be sensible for us to require Bridgend to become involved in a pooled budget relationship with Neath Port Talbot and Swansea councils and the ABMU health board. At the same time, we are consulting on moving them into the...
Vaughan Gething: As you will recall, in the mid 2000s, a change was made to the way the out-of-hours service was structured. So, GPs now opt in and are not required as part of their contract with the national health service to undertake the out-of-hours function. Part of our challenge is understanding how many GPs we need to make the service more stable and secure, and there are challenges across different...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. We are determined to do everything that we can to address the unacceptable inequalities in health outcomes between our least advantaged and our most advantaged communities. Reducing inequality is a central ambition of 'Prosperity for All', and that requires us to work in a more integrated and collaborative way within Government and with our partners, with a...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the follow-up question. I recognise the report that was launched this morning and I know that colleagues on the Labour backbenches, including Jayne Bryant, Jane Hutt and Mick Antoniw, were involved in funding that piece of research, which was actually a useful picture for us on the current picture here within Wales, [Inaudible.] broader, UK-wide picture. To be fair to my...
Vaughan Gething: This is a significant policy priority for this Government. We've agreed between three different Government departments to fund an ACEs hub to try and understand the impact of stacked adverse childhood experiences on individuals and families in their communities. It isn't just a funding approach; it's a policy and action approach as well. It's why I'm proud that this Government has led the way...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. The then Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government and, I recently confirmed, this Government, intends to consult on the proposal that health provision across the Bridgend council footprint should in future be made by Cwm Taf Local Health Board. We continue to work closely with Bridgend council and both health boards on taking this matter forward.
Vaughan Gething: I'm happy to confirm that the change in the footprint arrangements should not, of itself, make any changes to the way that services are provided, or, indeed, patient flows or the innovation that is already taking place—for example, the federation taking place between GPs in Bridgend and the innovations that are taking place within Cwm Taf. Whatever happens with the future, each health...
Vaughan Gething: Yes I do, and I've noted with interest the progress that Cwm Taf has made with Rocialle. Again, part of our challenge is for the health service to have a more grown-up relationship with partners in the independent sector without compromising the values of the service, but actually looking at how we can deliver real improvement. Sepsis, as we know, is a big killer, so I'm really looking...
