Caroline Jones: I'm backing the amendment in this group, and I agree with Plaid Cymru that there has to be a register for NHS managers. I've said many times in this Chamber that we must ensure health service managers abide by the same obligations as clinical staff. Clinicians are covered by duties of care placed upon them by their royal colleges and the various professional bodies. Managers are an essential...
Caroline Jones: While I cannot support the lead amendment in this group, I have some sympathy with what the Minister is seeking to do. However, I believe that this place, not Welsh Ministers, is best placed to appoint members to the citizen voice body. I therefore choose to support Angela's amendments. The citizen voice body is one of the most important parts of this legislation. I never supported replacing...
Caroline Jones: One of the biggest criticisms of the Welsh Government's plans to replace the CHCs was the loss of the local, regional voice. We have given our support to Angela's amendments because, in our view, they will help restore the local links that would be lost by scrapping the CHCs and replacing them with a small national body with an office in Cardiff, for example. If the new body is to truly be...
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. To be an effective champion, the citizen voice body must be heard. The community health councils have been an effective champion for Welsh patients, in part, because of their right to be heard. Public bodies have to take notice of representations made by CHCs. The amendments tabled by Angela and Rhun extend this duty to the citizen voice body. If this new body is to be our...
Caroline Jones: In our opinion, amendment 45 is one of the most important amendments we're discussing today. The ability to make unannounced visits into NHS facilities has enabled the CHCs to highlight failings that have impacted patient care. The fact that the Minister's vision for the CHCs' replacement did away with these visits was of huge concern to the majority of opposition politicians, patient...
Caroline Jones: We believe that both the amendments in this group are essential to the effective operation of the citizen voice body. Without a legal duty to co-operate being placed upon NHS bodies and local authorities, there is a danger that the citizen's voice will fall on deaf ears.
Caroline Jones: In order to ensure the citizen voice body is an effective replacement for the community health councils, we must ensure it has effectively trained staff. As you're only as good as your training, it is vitally important that we place a duty upon the new body to fully equip and train all its staff and volunteers to prepare them for the conduct of duties. If we are to have strong advocates, we...
Caroline Jones: What actions is the Welsh Government taking to ensure tenancy agreements meet the needs of tenants in social housing?
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, Dr Andrew Goodall told the Public Accounts Committee on Monday that he's very disappointed that three of Wales's seven local health boards are millions of pounds in deficit. Do you share his disappointment that Betsi Cadwaladr, Hywel Dda and Swansea Bay are forecasting a combined deficit of over £92 million for 2019 to 2020? Betsi Cadwaladr is predicted to be £41...
Caroline Jones: Thank you for that answer, Minister. Of course we all have to live within our means, but we can't just cut funding to health boards without impacting upon patient care. Take the new medicines fund, for example: the Welsh Government funds novel treatments for the first 12 months, and then health boards have to find funding for future years. So, what assessment have you made of the impact that...
Caroline Jones: Formally.
Caroline Jones: I'd like to thank David for bringing forward this extremely important debate. As a cancer survivor, I can attest to the fact that early diagnosis saves lives, because, without an amazing consultant, backed up by a team of nurses and diagnostic staff at Neath Port Talbot Hospital, I would not be here today. Because having had a mammogram, after which I was dancing out the door because they...
Caroline Jones: Will the Minister outline the actions the Welsh Government is taking to improve renal services in Wales?
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. We would also like to place on record our thanks to all staff in the NHS and beyond who are striving to work through this time, and I'd like to thank you, First Minister, for the briefings you are providing. You can be assured of our ongoing support. Also, we send our condolences to the family and friends of the person who has passed due to this virus. First Minister, the...
Caroline Jones: Thank you, First Minister. I'd like to stay with the idea of the issue of testing, if I may. The World Health Organization has said test, test, test, and I accept the rationale for not testing every case at this stage. But do you have a strategy for ramping up testing facilities in the coming months? This is a totally new virus of which we know very little, and the more data we can collect...
Caroline Jones: Thank you for delivering the statement, First Minister, and may we wish the health Minister and his family all the best during this trying time? We also thank you for the lengths you are going to to keep us and the Welsh public updated during this pandemic. Thank you again to all people helping—from NHS staff to the many volunteers that we depend upon so heavily. Also, I'd like to reiterate...
Caroline Jones: 1. What support is the Welsh Government providing to the tourism industry to mitigate the impact that coronavirus may have in Wales? OAQ55252
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Minister. When I tabled this question last week, who could have imagined that we'd be seeing the effective cancellation of the tourist season before it even began? Minister, hopefully the measures we are taking to halt the spread of coronavirus will mean that life can return to some sense of normality in a month or two. In the meantime, the impact this pandemic is having on tourism...
Caroline Jones: How is the Welsh Government ensuring that the education system is equipping young people with necessary life skills?
Caroline Jones: Thank you for your statement, First Minister, and also for the briefings that you've given me. I would also like to offer my condolences to the family and friends of those who have lost the battle to this dreadful disease. I want to give thanks on behalf of myself and my party to all of those putting their lives at risk to protect us from the coronavirus pandemic. Who would have thought just...
