Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. We are committed to increasing GP trainees across Wales, including in north Wales. Our targeted incentives have made a difference, with more than 100 per cent of posts being filled in most GP training schemes across north Wales. We continue to work with others to identify additional steps that could assist.
Vaughan Gething: I'm happy to respond about where we are this year and the approach that we'll take to future rounds of GP training places. As ever, we'll look at the right number of places, about what we want and what we think we can reasonably fill. I said at the start of the year's round that we've just completed that if we're able to overfill, then I'd be happy to do so, and that's exactly what we did....
Vaughan Gething: Yes, you're absolutely right, Joyce: we need to make sure that we have the right number of GPs, as really important leaders within local healthcare, but, equally, they're taking part in a wider multidisciplinary team to deliver care. Recently, at the national primary care conference I was really heartened by GP leaders but also other healthcare professionals who recognised that it was the...
Vaughan Gething: The current framework isn't just about doctors and training; it's also about the continued professional development and training that takes place through the profession. For example, I announced at the recent medicine safety conference with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Wales that we'll have a roll-out of a trial of pharmacists having fuller access to the GP record, and if that's...
Vaughan Gething: We are committed to delivering high-quality health and care services centred on individual needs and outcomes. Our 'More than just words' strategic framework sets out our commitment and actions to support and strengthen the planning and delivery of Welsh language services in health and care, including, of course, mental health services.
Vaughan Gething: Yes. I'm happy to give that commitment and I recognise this is an issue that isn't about a care preference, it's about a care need; the two are different and it's important to recognise the distinction. It's also about where the active offer takes place, so people don't need to say, 'I would like to be able to access healthcare through the medium of Welsh', but actually there is an active...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. Our stroke delivery plan provides a framework for action by health boards and NHS trusts, working with their partners. It sets out the expectations of all stakeholders to prevent, diagnose and treat stroke in people of all ages, wherever they live in Wales and whatever their circumstances.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. I recognise atrial fibrillation is a significant risk in people who have strokes. The latest sentinel stroke national audit programme clinical audit showed that 18 per cent of Welsh stroke patients had atrial fibrillation prior to their stroke. We already have work going on in this area. In the previous statement I made in this place on stroke and stroke...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. I've just recently announced plans to deliver 19 new integrated health and care centres across Wales by 2021, to help deliver care closer to people's homes in their communities. I've identified up to £68 million for the centres. Construction will be subject to the agreement of a successful business case. The expectation is that those schemes will be delivered by...
Vaughan Gething: No, I don't think it's just specific to Cardiff and the Vale. I think there is a range of elements, both within the UK and internationally, about the requirement to shift even more to a primary care-led system, and having a shift not just in services from hospital-based to a community base, but, actually, the appropriate shift in resources to make that happen as well. We've already seen some...
Vaughan Gething: Health boards are working through their primary care clusters to implement a transformative model of modern primary care. This model makes prudent use of the time and expertise of GPs and other professionals, delivering timely access for people to the right care and manageable workloads for professionals.
Vaughan Gething: We have made substantial investment in new integrated health centres in north Wales, including Blaenau Ffestiniog, Llangollen, Flint, Tywyn and Prestatyn. This investment will continue as part of the new pipeline of investment I announced last week, with two further projects to be delivered by 2021.
Vaughan Gething: The European working time directive ensures the health and safety of NHS staff by restricting the number of hours an individual can work and by setting minimum rest requirements for all workers.
Vaughan Gething: In light of the significant concerns raised on this issue, I established a task and finish group to advise on any further action that should be taken within Wales on the use of mesh implants for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence. The group will report to me in January 2018.
Vaughan Gething: I expect Powys Teaching Local Health Board to commission hospital services that meet the needs of the people of Powys. The health board is involved in NHS England’s Future Fit programme so that the health needs of Powys residents accessing services in Shropshire can be taken into account.
Vaughan Gething: The national approach to tackling type 2 diabetes is set out in the diabetes delivery plan for Wales, which was updated in December 2016. This will be supported by the development of the obesity strategy for Wales and the wider approach to encouraging more physical activity and healthier diets.
Vaughan Gething: In light of the significant concerns raised on this issue, I established a task and finish group to advise on any further action that should be taken within Wales on the use of mesh implants for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence. The group will report to me in January 2018.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. The winter, as ever, is a very challenging period. NHS Wales and the wider social care system are under considerable pressure and that is consistent with pressures being reported right across the UK. Despite activity in parts of the system, that at times have been unprecedented, our dedicated and hard-working staff continue to provide a professional and...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the series of questions. To think about where we are and about the pressure that exists right across the system, much of our commentary ends up inevitably being about the front door of a hospital and the emergency department, but, actually, the pressure is right across the system, including in primary care, where on peak days they've had 100,000 contacts in primary care across...
Vaughan Gething: I do regret the tone with which Rhun ap Iorwerth approaches this very serious issue—[Interruption.] Suggesting that we are fobbing people off is a denial of the reality. A 54 per cent spike in red ambulance demand on New Year's Eve is not fobbing people off. That is a real, unplanned for—and how on earth could you possibly plan for—spike in demand. On New Year's Day, the increase in...
