Vaughan Gething: I've been very clear that this is a public consultation for members of the public to get involved with. I've also been very clear there's got to be clinical leadership about any other proposals, which is why it was important that clinicians took part not only in a presentation and conversation at board, they've got to be part of the conversation with the public. If I intervene now and if I...
Vaughan Gething: I'm happy to respond positively and say that Hywel Dda should respond positively to requests for further public engagement. It is in everyone's interest to have the maximum level of public engagement, not just with the health board at a leadership level but actually with clinicians in their local communities, whether in general practice or whether in hospital-based services or other...
Vaughan Gething: Yes. We will consult on a cross-Government strategy to prevent and reduce levels of obesity later this year. It will outline the actions needed at a Wales and UK level to complement existing measures like the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013, our Healthy Child Wales programme, and, of course, nutritional standards in schools.
Vaughan Gething: I recognise this is a major, significant public health challenge. That's why we've already taken some of the steps we've already taken, but it is about looking at what we do next, and I'd be very interested in the committee's report and its recommendations because we have not yet signed off a consultation on our strategy. Then I will finalise what the strategy should be and how we'll use our...
Vaughan Gething: Yes. The treatment of kerataconus in adults is currently determined by health board local guidelines, which will include specialty guidelines and college guidelines and other best practice.
Vaughan Gething: I'd always want to consider how—. I think you recognise that it's a rare and complex condition, and the challenge is how we provide a proper service for people in this position, even if that is commissioning a service at some distance, whether within Wales or outside. I'm actually due to have a review that's been undertaken by both the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee and Health...
Vaughan Gething: The Welsh Government is committed to actively supporting health boards to meet the needs of the Act and understand what sufficient staffing looks like and will continue to work with health boards and trusts across Wales on approving IMTPs recognising that our workforce underpins services.
Vaughan Gething: We are committed to supporting Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to improve the delivery of cancer services for its population in line with the approach set out in the Cancer Delivery Plan for Wales. This includes a focus on earlier detection and rapid access to evidence-based treatment.
Vaughan Gething: The Welsh Government continues to invest in the health service in mid and west Wales. I announced recently £3m for Withybush Hospital and £25m for Glangwili Hospital. We are also investing £6.6m in Llandrindod Wells War Memorial Hospital. I will continue to work with both Hywel Dda and Powys Health Boards to address their future needs.
Vaughan Gething: When the major trauma network for south Wales is established, the vast majority of patients will continue to be seen and treated at their local A&E department. Only those patients requiring the highest levels of care will be treated at the major trauma centre.
Vaughan Gething: The National Advisory Group that oversees Talk to Me 2, our suicide and self harm strategy recently published a midpoint review. This showed good progress towards implementation of the actions which, along with findings from the current Committee inquiry into suicide in Wales will inform future actions in this area.
Vaughan Gething: Health boards in south east Wales have been working to ensure their breast cancer services are sustainable for the future. Cwm Taf University Health Board has already centralised its service at the Royal Glamorgan and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has advanced plans to centralise services at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr.
Vaughan Gething: The Welsh Government commissioned review of sexual health services was published on 17 April. I have instructed my officials to work with Health Boards and other stakeholders to progress the necessary actions to address the recommendations from the review and Welsh Government will monitor and drive progress.
Vaughan Gething: Diolch, Llywydd. On 3 May, the Health and Social Care Advisory Service published the outcome of its investigation into the care and treatment provided on the Tawel Fan ward. I am acutely aware that this has been a very difficult period for all individuals, families and staff directly affected by the concerns over care and treatment at Tawel Fan. I acknowledge the additional strain caused by...
Vaughan Gething: I do understand that many will have been surprised by the findings of their report. However, anyone who has taken the time to read the report carefully should appreciate the thoroughness of the investigation and understand how the conclusions have been reached. In relation to the care on Tawel Fan the independent findings are that the levels of care and treatment provided on Tawel Fan ward...
Vaughan Gething: I recognise that there'll be a range of people who won't accept the findings produced in the independent HASCAS investigation report. I recognise that there'll be a range of families who will simply not be able to accept the conclusions they have reached, and I think it's easy to understand why that might be, where people have witnessed challenges that they have reported on. But, as the...
Vaughan Gething: I, again, refer back to the reality, the factual, undeniable reality, that this report by HASCAS, an independent group, an independent organisation, considered a much wider range of evidence than previous reports. And it should not be surprising that, when more evidence is available, including the 108 clinical records that were reviewed, it is possible to reach a different conclusion. That...
Vaughan Gething: I want to start again by reiterating that this report is certainly not a whitewash or a cover-up. If the report, on the basis of the evidence available, had come to a different conclusion, then, again, I would have been in a position where, of course, I would have been duty bound to accept that. There is precious little point in having an exhaustive independent investigation process, taking...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the range of questions. Forgive me if I don't answer all of them now in the time available, but I'm happy to take them up with you directly after today's proceedings as well. I think, actually, the point you raise about accident and emergency shows the scale of the challenge we face in dementia care, because people with dementia are a regular feature already of care within the...
Vaughan Gething: I think it's important that HASCAS were given a remit to independently investigate and reflect back on the evidence they found. That was the remit that they were given. You then have to accept that when that independent review is undertaken, when you accept the integrity of the people, that may well provide very difficult messages that are critical of the Government, critical of the health...
