Vaughan Gething: That, indeed, is part of the point and purpose of setting up the hub in the first place—to try to make sure that we do embed that learning to help in trying to ensure that we have fewer ACEs taking place, but we're actually intervening at an earlier point to help support children and their families. I can say, in terms of the budget, it is an active consideration for Ministers and as soon...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. On 14 November I laid the National Health Service (Indemnities) (Wales) Bill, together with the necessary supporting documents before this Assembly. The Bill amends section 30 of the National Health Service Wales Act 2006 in relation to schemes to meeting losses and liabilities of certain health service bodies. It will confer a new power on the Welsh...
Vaughan Gething: Now, the future liability scheme is operated by the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership's legal and risk services—and I'll now refer to them as NHS Wales SSP for brevity. But appointing NHS Wales SSP builds on their existing experience of dealing with NHS Wales's secondary care indemnity and it has the support of GPs across Wales. The future liability scheme has bedded in well since its...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you to Members for the variety of comments, and for the broad support for the point and purpose of the Bill, although I recognise there are some points of both clarification and reassurance and, indeed, some points about potential amendments that Members have signalled they might make. I do just want to deal at the outset, though, with the point made in a couple of contributions about...
Vaughan Gething: I was going to deal shortly with the Medical Defence Union as well, and then I'll take the intervention. The point about the Medical Defence Union's judicial review—they've applied for an oral hearing, as is their right, and that is currently listed to be heard on 17 December. I'm not anticipating a lengthy delay, and it, of course, affects the ability to introduce these regulations in...
Vaughan Gething: Well, there's a point here about the number of people who have taken part in the indemnity arrangements with the Medical Defence Union, a potential hole, and a different level of cover and a different actor for people in primary care, and that would be across England and Wales. I don't think that that differential would be helpful, because there's still something about wanting certainty for...
Vaughan Gething: Formally, Chair.
Vaughan Gething: Formally.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Llywydd. I do want to thank the Conservatives for bringing this important issue to the Chamber today, and all Members who have contributed. I have listened to what speakers have had to say, and I recognise a number of the points that have been made. And, overall, we're broadly supportive of the motion. The Government amendment has been tabled to draw together the commitments we...
Vaughan Gething: Yes.
Vaughan Gething: Well, I think there are two points there, aren't there? There's one about end-of-life care, which is a significant priority in primary care, which is no surprise given the profile of our population and the numbers involved, and there's much greater engagement and involvement from primary care in providing good end-of-life care—it's part of standard business in primary care, so not just our...
Vaughan Gething: That's what we're going to do—[Inaudible.]
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm happy to move the motion before us today and the debate on the general principles of the Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Bill, which I introduced on 17 June this year. I'd like to place on record my thanks to all stakeholders and members of the public who engaged with us and contributed to our thinking. The Bill reflects the...
Vaughan Gething: The four elements of the Bill make a step forward to better quality improvement and support, more integrated working between health and social care and improved citizen engagement. I'm grateful to members of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, the Finance Committee and the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee for their scrutiny of the Bill so far, and for their...
Vaughan Gething: Yes. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you to Members who have contributed in today's debate, but, more than that, as I say, to the ongoing scrutiny process over a period of time. I should start, perhaps, with the comments made by the Plaid Cymru spokesperson in indicting that their whole group had changed their mind post the committee's report. That's obviously disappointing,...
Vaughan Gething: Well, I think that reinforces two points. The first is that I still don't think it's helpful to try and say there is a good community health council and that others aren't. I think that's problematic. It's not a view that the national board of community health councils themselves take. And the second is, of course, that, in talking about wanting to have different ways of working, there's a...
Vaughan Gething: Formally.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. The only health board boundary change that has taken place since 2009 is to move the Bridgend county borough area from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board to Cwm Taf University Health Board and to form the new Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. The legislation making that change came into effect on 1 April 2019.
Vaughan Gething: I don't think this issue is affected at all in any adverse way by the change in boundaries. In fact, part of the challenge previously for this practice was having centres to operate in different health board areas. And in my conversation with the constituency Member, my understanding is different to the one you've set out. It may be worth you putting that in writing, then I can write to both...
Vaughan Gething: Well, it's a consequence of the arrangements that have been put in place at a private prison, and that's not a matter that I can intervene on or actually undo. I would much prefer it if prisoner healthcare was run in a different way. I'd personally prefer it if there was an update to the formula to recognise the increase in prisoner population, and the needs that exist. I'd much prefer if we...
