Vaughan Gething: Julian Tudor Hart's work will continue to challenge not just this part of the national health service system, but actually every part of the developed world. The challenge is that those who most need medical care are the least likely to receive it and utilise it, whereas those with the least need of healthcare tend to use health services more, and more effectively. That's a challenge for a...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. I'm happy to have the opportunity to respond. I have written to Baroness Cumberlege to confirm that, in Wales, the use of mesh will be restricted on a similar basis as in England until additional safeguards are in place. The Chief Medical Officer for Wales has written to all medical directors in Wales to advise them of this advice. Officials will continue to work...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. I recognise the conversations that your father had with me about his constituent Maxine Cooper, and the continuing interest he had shown, and that you do too, on this issue. Obviously the statement that I made earlier this year indicated what we would do in response to the expert panel that we'd instituted here in Wales, and the group that you mentioned at the end,...
Vaughan Gething: I think it's important to reiterate the recognition of the significant harm that has been caused where mesh procedures have gone wrong. I've met people in that position directly themselves and all of us have been affected by the very real testimony they provided. The situation here in Wales is that we have had a more vigilant approach since the report that was published and the statement...
Vaughan Gething: I think that's a really important point to make. It was part of the terms of reference for the expert group and review we had here in Wales, and it's really important not to undersell the importance of informed consent, because different people faced with the same information will make different choices about the risks they're prepared to take in treatment and, indeed, on the condition they...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. Earlier this week, I was happy to announce an immediate increase in medical school places in Wales. These 40 additional places will bring benefits to the whole of Wales, including west and north Wales, with 20 places in Swansea medical school and 20 places in Cardiff medical school, to be delivered in collaboration with Bangor University in north Wales. Cardiff and...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you. It's important to note that this is keeping the pledge that we made to come back with a decision, and the indication that I gave that we thought we'd be able to do something on expanding them—expanding opportunities in different parts of Wales—in previous questions. I've always been keen to talk about the fact that this is good news both for north Wales but also west Wales,...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the questions. I think it's a useful point about distinguishing between the medical degree and then speciality training post medical degree. Of course, there are ongoing conversations with colleagues in the north-west deanery in England about how we might arrange different courses of study, as well as what we can do within Wales as well. I want there to be a practical...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. It is important that we see opportunities for people to utilise the skills they have to be doctors, including the ability to use the Welsh language. Part of our challenge, and I've made this point several times over in the past, is that Welsh language needs are not preferences, they are genuine care needs in a range of our communities and with individuals and...
Vaughan Gething: I've made an announcement that is building on our two medical schools and provision and partnership with universities in different parts of Wales. I don't think it would be at all helpful for me to try and interrupt that, having just announced it within a week, and to then say that I expect them to remake different links with different medical schools. We of course want opportunities for...
Vaughan Gething: In making this announcement, we've been clear with our university partners and the two medical schools that we want to continue to see more people from Wales have opportunities to train to become doctors as part of this. We want to see excellence, of course, but I don't think that you need to dumb down on standards, frankly, to give more people from Wales opportunities to—
Vaughan Gething: That's exactly my point. You don't need to dumb down on standards to give more opportunities to people in Wales.
Vaughan Gething: The reason I bring that up is that it is something that is mentioned outside this place from time to time about saying, 'Actually you need to change standards.' [Interruption.] I think you're misunderstanding—[Interruption.] With respect, I think you're misunderstanding the point I'm making. The point I'm making is that there are plenty of young people from Wales who have the ability to...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I do actually want to thank the committee for the work that they have undertaken in producing this report on antipsychotic medication in care homes. I recognise the tone of the debate and the disappointment that some Members expressed, but I do actually think that there is a large amount of agreement on the priority of action that is required to be...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Last Thursday, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board received the Donna Ockenden review of governance in mental health services in north Wales. This is another difficult report for the board, but the findings should not be a surprise to them. Donna Ockenden has drawn heavily on other reports, reviews and inspections of the board since 2009....
Vaughan Gething: However, I do want to place on record again how acutely aware I am of how difficult this period has been for individuals, families and patients affected by the original concerns. I have received correspondence from a number of the Tawel Fan families and my office is currently agreeing a time for me to meet to with them again, now that all of the reports are in the public domain. I also...
Vaughan Gething: I recognise the range of comments and concerns the Member has consistently made throughout the course of special measures and the initial Ockenden report into the Tawel Fan ward. Dealing with what I think were the questions, as opposed to the broader comments made, at the outset I recognise the very difficult position that families are in. This has been a long road travelled, and I understand...
Vaughan Gething: There are several areas of excellence and high quality being provided within north Wales, and I do think that there is room for temperance and responsibility in the way that we address healthcare services in every part of the country, and that includes the scrutiny that could and should be provided to an area of continuing concern that I do not seek to hide from at any point whatsoever.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the questions. Your point at the outset about a debate or a statement is a matter for people in this place to decide how they wish to use their time. What I would gently point out to the Member is that in a statement the Minister has to respond to a series of questions from a wide variety of people; a debate is an opportunity to simply respond to one debate. There are choices to...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the series of questions. I think I've dealt with the similar questions that have been asked about responsibility, which I accept for the national health service when it goes well and, indeed, when there are challenges too. Other people have asked about the same point about not just the scrutiny but actually additional support around the board, which I think I've dealt with in...
