Vikki Howells: Thank you, First Minister, for your answer. There are currently over 1,000 vacant A&E consultant posts across England and Wales. Now, this is a concern for all of us, of course, but particularly in my local health board area of Cwm Taf Morgannwg, where the ability to recruit consultants to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital—or inability, I should say—has left that A&E department under threat of...
Vikki Howells: 1. Will the First Minister provide an update on NHS recruitment in Wales? OAQ55242
Vikki Howells: A further interesting angle is the nature of employment. Former coalfield areas have higher percentages of their workforce engaged in manufacturing. The figures are 13 per cent as opposed to a British average of 8 per cent, or 5 per cent for a city like Cardiff. The importance of the foundational economy to coalfield communities is clear. In other coalfield communities, warehousing and call...
Vikki Howells: At that February meeting, Professor Fothergill shared unique data to the former south Wales coalfields area. Some of this isn't published in the report, but I will be making use of it today. He also explored the arguments made in 10 priorities for the former coalfields. That is the policy statement produced by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and the Industrial Communities Alliance. It...
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I've agreed to give a minute of my time to my colleague Mick Antoniw today. The inspiration for this short debate came from the publication of 'The State of the Coalfields 2019'. The report was an investigation into the economic and social conditions in the former British coalfield areas, and it was commissioned by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, produced by a...
Vikki Howells: Our amendment also called for improvements to GP out-of-hours services and to extend minor injury unit opening times, for example, at Ysbyty Cwm Cynon—a practical solution to improve performance by A&Es by removing some of the pressure. So, to close, I would just like to reiterate my support for a full 24-hour service of A&E at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, and to place on record my...
Vikki Howells: —that was addressed in the amendment a few weeks ago that I co-submitted with Mick Antoniw, Dawn Bowden and Huw Irranca-Davies. That was much more thorough wording that holistically considered service provision throughout Cwm Taf and didn't just try to set communities against each other. For example, our amendment called for the retention of a full A&E service, not just at the Royal...
Vikki Howells: I'd like to place on record again my support for full 24-hour A&E at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital. This is such an important topic, so I'm a bit mystified, really, as to why Plaid Cymru have only used 30 minutes for this debate. I hope it's not an attempt to stifle the voices of Labour backbenchers, who represent areas affected by this. I'd have thought that they would have wanted to give...
Vikki Howells: On 8 March 1955, Dai Dower faced off in a boxing ring in the Earls Court arena against Nazzareno Gianelli. Dower beat his opponent, taking the European flyweight title. He was described as 'Boxing at his brilliant best'. He dazzled the watching crowd. This was the high point of the professional career of 'the fighting phenomenon of the south Wales Valleys’. He claimed his third title,...
Vikki Howells: Thank you for your response, First Minister, and thank you, more importantly, for the proactive work that you and your Government has carried out. The scale of the damage caused to infrastructure by the recent flooding is becoming all too clear, with, for example, in Rhondda Cynon Taf alone, nine bridges having to be replaced, in addition to damage to roads, culverts and river walls, with an...
Vikki Howells: 6. Will the First Minister provide an update on how the Welsh Government is supporting communities in dealing with the cost of recent flooding? OAQ55190
Vikki Howells: Thank you, Minister. I welcome the Welsh Government's statement that was published today announcing £2.5 million support for businesses affected by flooding. That will certainly be of some comfort to the estimated 450 businesses that have been affected throughout Rhondda Cynon Taf. Now, I know that you are aware, Minister, of the statistics that have been published by the Royal...
Vikki Howells: 6. Will the Minister outline what the Welsh Government is doing to support people affected by the recent flooding in Cynon Valley? OAQ55152
Vikki Howells: I'm pleased to be able to support this final budget today, a budget that rightly prioritises our NHS and also offers a sustained programme of funding to ensure the future of our country. In setting out the budget today, Ministers have met their promises to the people of Wales and ensured the alignment of governmental priorities with those of our citizens. Services are protected and enhanced,...
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Thank you, Minister. I'd like to repeat again the thanks made by many Members across this Chamber for the effort made by countless heroes to help those affected by recent flooding, and to repeat also my thanks to you for visiting businesses and residents in Mountain Ash with me last week. The visible leadership from yourself and the First Minister was welcome. My...
Vikki Howells: First Minister, I'd like to place on record my thanks to yourself, to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, and to all of Welsh Government for your efforts to support those whose homes and businesses have been ruined by storm Dennis. The financial support that you are putting in place is much appreciated by constituents that I have spoken with, and, alongside support from...
Vikki Howells: 4. Will the Welsh Government outline what support they are providing to communities that have been affected by storm Dennis? OAQ55117
Vikki Howells: Diolch, Llywydd. February is LGBT+ history month. It's an opportunity to commemorate the past of the LGBT+ community, to celebrate its diversity and achievements and to offer hope for the future, whilst also serving as a reminder of the struggle for equal rights for all. It was first celebrated in the UK in 2005. Founded by Sue Sanders and the late Paul Patrick, its focus was on educating...
Vikki Howells: Today's debate is the chance to send a strong message of support in favour of retaining A&E at Royal Glamorgan Hospital; to show just how many people will be affected by these health board proposals; to show just how important it is that the health board thinks again and instead brings to the table strong, safe and sustainable solutions. I have co-submitted amendment 4 to put on the record my...
Vikki Howells: First Minister, work is now well underway on the new £4 million Mountain Ash primary healthcare centre, and this is great news for the local community, bringing a range of services together and replacing existing GP facilities that were outdated and, frankly, not fit for purpose. In what other ways is the Welsh Government supporting to help deliver improvements to primary healthcare in the...
