Rhun ap Iorwerth: You have stated as fact, again, as the record will show, that there has been an increase in doctor numbers in Wales. One of the further facts that we found interesting is that one particular speciality has seen an extra 207 doctors in the past year. That particular speciality, although listed as a hospital speciality, is in fact ‘general practice (doctors in training)’. Now, we asked for...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I look forward to an increase in places, including of course in Bangor and other parts of Wales. I’d welcome any moves from Welsh Government—and I will continue to press Government and offer my co-operation—on the issue of increasing medical training places. The Cabinet Secretary has, on numerous occasions, said that there are a record number of consultants and doctors in Wales....
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you, Llywydd. I’m sure the Cabinet Secretary would join with me in condemning the rhetoric of the UK Conservative Government over the past few days and the disrespect that’s been shown towards staff from outwith these isles who make such a valuable contribution to our NHS. I would want to distance myself from virtually everything that Jeremy Hunt has said. But, coming to my...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I have highlighted the problem whereby businesses in the Môn enterprise zone were failing to make bids for a reduction in their business rates. I made that point to his predecessor, and I was very grateful to her for acknowledging that there was a problem and for opening a new window for making an application for a reduction. However, it appears that the problem remains. So, what intention...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on developing telemedicine? OAQ(5)0041(HWS)[W]
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you, Deputy Llywydd. I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement. I have two or three points and five questions, I believe. In terms of opening remarks, of course we welcome the improvements, the enhanced survival rates and better outcomes for patients for when that occurs. Of course, it’s happening across Europe and the globe because of improvement in treatments, technology and...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Diolch yn fawr iawn. Thank you very much, Cabinet Secretary. I have a very short period of time just to sum up. Firstly, to thank the Members that have spoken for this motion today. David Rees was absolutely right in pointing out that it’s a breadth of people and not just nurses—including allied health professionals—that benefit from the bursaries. Thanks also to the Conservative health...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thanks for giving way. Just for clarification, we’re grateful that you’re suggesting that you will support the motion today, but can you just confirm that you are affirming what is in the motion in relation to 2016-17 only, and that beyond that is up for discussion still?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Certainly.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Absolutely, because that training period and working in the NHS is a way to open the door to a future career within those areas where, perhaps, we are finding it difficult to recruit. I think nurses deserve payment for that work that they do—for working the equivalent of a full-time job in the NHS whilst studying. Is it really feasible, for example, for them to work part time in a bar, or...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: We’ve tabled the motion today, as I say, to indicate our support for retaining that bursary as part of a wider package to encourage people from lower-income backgrounds into the profession. Our future NHS needs that. Our future nurses deserve that. The Government needs to stop dithering on this issue and make its mind up.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Diolch yn fawr iawn, Lywydd. Well, we’ve tabled today’s motion for a very simple reason: we believe the nursing bursary to be valuable and we’re seeking clarity from Welsh Government about their intentions in relation to the future of that bursary. We know that the UK Government has made the decision to scrap the bursary in England and that set alarm bells ringing in Wales, and in...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: You’re absolutely right, and I agree with the points that you raised. There are particular practical issues with making sure that audiences the length and breadth of Wales are able to watch BBC Wales services through their televisions and their radios, and we need to make sure that the numbers of people who receive English regional programming rather than Welsh national programming is...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Certainly.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I won’t be speaking for very long, but just to endorse much of what’s been mentioned already by a number of Members, which is what is important as a result of the process that we’ve gone through in terms of the charter is what is being taken action on in Wales. There are threats facing BBC Wales and broadcasting in Wales, without a doubt, as a result of the charter that we’ll have in...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: May I welcome this statement? We are talking here about two elements of weaknesses in health provision, which at the moment do lead to frustration among patients and their families, and where there is a real feeling that there is some unfairness in the system. I will first of all cover the announcement of the independent review of the IPFR. We in Plaid Cymru certainly felt strongly that it...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you, Llywydd. Over the past few weeks I’ve visited two pharmacies in my constituency—the Rowlands pharmacy in Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll and the Boots branch in Llangefni. Pharmacies, of course, play a crucial role in the wider provision of primary care, and I would certainly want to see that provision extended. Does the First Minister agree with me that we need to do away with some of...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you also to the Cabinet Secretary for the statement. This is an area that is a priority for us, and that’s why we were determined to see a commitment in this area in terms of the post-election agreement. However, we are facing a crisis and, in the face of a crisis of this kind, we need to act as a matter of urgency. There are fewer GPs per head...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Will you take an intervention?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Will you take an intervention?
