Vaughan Gething: The characterisation you provide I don't think is entirely fair, but I do recognise the variance in experience between practices, and it's something that comes up regularly in postbags. If you look at the national survey for Wales, it recognises a decline in satisfaction in having access to local healthcare. So, there is a real challenge. It's a challenge that was recognised both by the...
Vaughan Gething: There is considerable work under way to ensure patients who have a clinical need for an ambulance response in South Wales West do so as quickly as possible. I was encouraged to note that the latest figures show the area was again among the best performers in Wales for patients in the red category.
Vaughan Gething: This was part of the amber review and the conversation about whether you should give an indication of whether an ambulance is due, and the advice in that was not to do so. There's work that the chief ambulance commissioner is doing to take forward the amber review to try and improve the experience for people whilst they are waiting as well. I'd be happy, though, to talk to the Member directly...
Vaughan Gething: On the two points—. There are two separate points, and on co-responders it isn't just about money. It is actually about agreement on the role, for example, for firefighters as well, and agreement that is about terms and conditions and, actually, about how we deliver and make better use of trained personnel within our broader emergency services system. The point about first responders is one...
Vaughan Gething: The Welsh Government has issued national guidance to NHS Wales on engagement and consultation when they're considering making changes to health services. I expect them to take full account of the guidance and involve stakeholders—including, of course, the public—fully when proposing any changes.
Vaughan Gething: I don't think I'd quite accept the characterisation that these are changes trying to be introduced through the back door. On the three areas that you've talked about—on neurology and orthopaedics, there's big pressure on the numbers going through our system and our ability to meet those. That is partly about the rise in demand—for example, in neurology, in having the right equipment and...
Vaughan Gething: I'm prepared to take on board and take seriously the point the Member is making and look again at the guidance to see if it does have an unintended consequence. But actually, the starting point is that it's important to have a full conversation with the public about what is being proposed: what is the proposal for the future, what does that mean about services now? And to make sure that we...
Vaughan Gething: Health boards use a variety of different tools to remind patients to attend appointments, including text messaging and phone reminders, one of which I had myself yesterday. Missed appointments cost the NHS and patients have a role to play in ensuring that arranged appointments are attended.
Vaughan Gething: This is part of standard business for the health service in making sure that people have the opportunity to attend, and, if there are changes, that people are told promptly, because something in the second class post is certainly not the most efficient way to get to most people within the country. So, it is a regular part of learning across the service about the different approaches being...
Vaughan Gething: Yes, and that is a real challenge. It is partly about efficiency, but it's also, frankly, about making the best use in terms of people's time, and not just money. Some health boards do provide an estimation for the amount that an appointment costs, and most hospitals that I have been in—and I tend to go to a few during the time I spend in the job—do have regular signs showing the cost of...
Vaughan Gething: Recruitment and retention remains a priority for the Welsh Government and for health boards and trusts. On a national level, recruitment continues to be supported by our successful ‘Train. Work. Live.’ campaign, alongside record levels of investment to support healthcare education and training, including additional medical school places.
Vaughan Gething: We have a wide range of improvement activity that we expect the people of Pembrokeshire to benefit from. In addition to service specific improvements, the population will continue to benefit from investment in primary care facilities, the transformation fund and the integrated care fund in 2019/20.
Vaughan Gething: The Grange hospital is the one new hospital currently under construction in south-east Wales. It is on schedule to open in the spring of 2021. The business case for the construction of a new cancer centre to replace Velindre hospital is currently being prepared.
Vaughan Gething: I will make a statement on delivery over winter next week. We have been open about pressures experienced by health and social care services over recent weeks, but it is testament to the commitment of front-line staff that the vast majority of patients are still receiving high-quality and timely care.
Vaughan Gething: Clinicians from the health board have been working with the Faculty of Medical Management and Leadership to review the current arrangements for obstetric, neonatal and paediatric services in the region. If any changes are proposed to the current service, then there would be engagement with stakeholders and the public.
Vaughan Gething: The Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee commissions low dose rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer for the population of Wales. High dose rate brachytherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer is not currently commissioned in Wales but may be accessed through an individual patient funding request.
Vaughan Gething: We continue to work with health boards and partners to improve services relating to chronic or persistent pain. We are working with Powys Teaching Local Health Board to ensure that any patients affected by the decision to close the pain service at Oswestry are minimised.
Vaughan Gething: Improving health for everyone is a central ambition of 'Prosperity for All' and 'A Healthier Wales'. Welsh Government, in partnership with Public Health Wales, health boards and local authorities, is working to deliver our priorities to improve population health. Central to this is support for targeted interventions to encourage healthy lifestyles.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Llywydd. I am pleased to update Members on the delivery of unscheduled care services this winter. I'd like to begin by paying tribute to the hard work and dedication of thousands of our health and social care staff this winter. I've had the opportunity to see front-line staff across Wales delivering services for people whilst under pressure. I've talked previously about the...
Vaughan Gething: Hospitals across Wales reported considerably less time spent at the highest levels of escalation in December 2018 and January 2019 when compared to December 2017 and January 2018 respectively. When hospitals did experience those increased pressures, this winter they recovered and de-escalated quicker, and that is a real indication of improved resilience of front-line services. Hospitals have...
