Vaughan Gething: Our priority is to provide the people of Pembrokeshire with health services that deliver the best possible outcomes for patients. We will, of course, be guided by the best and most up-to-date clinical evidence and advice to deliver high-quality care that the people of Pembrokeshire deserve.
Vaughan Gething: I expect Hywel Dda to make the significant improvement that is required against their referral-to-treatment time targets and ensure every person is treated in a timely manner, based on clinical need.
Vaughan Gething: I expect all patients to be seen and treated in a timely manner, based on clinical need. To assist this, we have invested a further £50 million during the year to maintain performance over the winter, which will assist in reducing waiting times.
Vaughan Gething: The Welsh Government expects all local health boards to have robust systems in place to identify, manage and minimise potential risks to patients, staff, services and the organisation. This is needed to prevent harm, ensure appropriate use of resources and maintain public confidence.
Vaughan Gething: The Welsh Government has provided more than £8 million of additional funding over the last two years to support dementia services across Wales. A consultation on the first dementia strategic action plan for Wales is now open until 3 April 2017.
Vaughan Gething: We are continuing to work closely with Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health Board. Support will be directed by the Welsh Government in agreement with the health board on the assistance that it requires.
Vaughan Gething: I expect health boards to ensure that people affected by a neurological condition such as multiple sclerosis to have timely access to high-quality care, integrated with social services where appropriate. This should be irrespective of where people live and how these services are delivered.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I move the motion. I’d like to start by thanking the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee for their scrutiny of the LCM, and I note that they raise no particular objections. The UK Government introduced the Health Service Medical Supplies (Costs) Bill into Parliament on 15 September last year. The aims of the Bill are the clarify the UK Government’s...
Vaughan Gething: Yes.
Vaughan Gething: I’m only aware of the headline issues in the particular point that you raise, but I think it is an isolated case. And, in fact, the evidence of our statistical evidence of what happens when people make calls is that the great majority of people receive a much faster response, both in red and in the amber category. And that is part of the point where I think we should be proud of what our...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I thank the Members who have taken part in today’s debate. And I’m sure that, not just yesterday and today, we will spend more time in this Chamber discussing the reality of winter pressures upon our health and social care services over the coming months. We all know that there’s been very real pressure over recent weeks in health and social care...
Vaughan Gething: Formally.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the question. As I said through the statement—previous statements and today—this is about quick, consistent access to approved, effective medication. For those that are not approved through NICE or the AWMSG process, there is the individual patient funding request process—the IPFR process. Members are all aware that we have undertaken a particular piece of work with a...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the comments and for the question. Of course, I monitor the use and the impact of the fund. It’s important not just to have a statement where we can say we’ve made a promise and we’ve delivered on it. We then need to make sure it’s doing what we thought it would do and providing that real benefit for individuals across the country. And, in doing that, there’ll be money...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for your comments and questions, and your welcome for the delivery of this part of the programme for government. I’m happy to reconfirm the point about the appraisal process for other new forms of technology. The new treatment fund we’re talking about is for the delivery of new and approved medicines. In terms of your point about horizon scanning for new medicines; that is part...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for your series of questions and comments. To be fair, I didn’t expressly deal with the question that Angela Burns asked about other new technologies, which you finished on as well. Indeed, this announcement is about a new treatment fund for medicines. There are other processes and means to assess the effectiveness or otherwise of other interventions, whether they’re talking...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the comments and suggestions and questions. I’ll try and pick up your final point about the drugs that you described as being effective but eye-wateringly expensive. Well, those drugs that are eye-wateringly expensive are drugs that are unlikely to be approved by NICE or the AWMSG. That’s why we have a recommended process: the benefit has to be in accordance with the cost as...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, once again, Presiding Officer. I am pleased to announce that the new treatment fund is now established and I will be releasing, immediately, £12 million for the first tranche of funding for this year. The new treatment fund was a key commitment that we put before the people of Wales in May 2016 and we are delivering on that commitment. Our commitment was to invest £80 million...
Vaughan Gething: Well, I’m not sure if the first point about someone who hadn’t spoken for years actually standing up and speaking when you were singing was a comment on your singing ability, or whether it’s about the impact of music on memory and triggering a reaction. But those points are well made about different activities that are not just about experience, but how you maintain someone’s ability...
Vaughan Gething: Yes, and thank you for the comments and questions. Again, we go back to the fact that this consultation draft has been drawn up working with people living with dementia now and we’re to hear from a wider range of people through the rest of the consultation’s period of time, because this isn’t about saying that once a diagnosis is made then that is it, because, actually, lots of people...
