Caroline Jones: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. We all know that prevention is better than cure. While we can and are taking action to tackle some of the risk factors associated with breast cancer, Breast Cancer Now highlight the fact that we can’t tackle the biggest risk factors: being a woman and getting older. We can, however, take action to reduce the risk of breast cancer spreading to other parts of the...
Caroline Jones: Thank you for your answer, Cabinet Secretary. One of the biggest improvements we can make to breast cancer care—and the whole purpose of the awareness month—is to make the public aware of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Detecting breast cancer early improves your chances of survival, as I know from personal experience. I’m now in my tenth year following breast cancer and I owe...
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, October is breast cancer awareness month and to mark the occasion Breast Cancer Now have published a new report looking at the breast cancer patient pathway, and makes recommendations to improve patient outcomes. We’re now making progress in improving breast cancer survival rates. Both one-year and five-year survival rates have increased by 1.7 per cent...
Caroline Jones: Cabinet Secretary, as we discovered in the health committee, young people in Wales who study medicine in Wales are more likely to stay in Wales, which is why it is vitally important that we improve medical education opportunities in north Wales. Not only do we have a shortage of doctors and nurses in Wales, but we also have a massive shortage of radiologists. Cabinet Secretary, what is your...
Caroline Jones: What plans does the Cabinet Secretary have to review the governance structures within the NHS?
Caroline Jones: First Minister, an independent patient voice is vital, particularly for those who can’t make themselves heard. We have made huge progress in providing advocates for people with mental health issues, but patient advocacy services are also vital to people with dementia. There have been calls for every person with dementia to have access to a skilled and independent advocate who understands...
Caroline Jones: What action is the Welsh Government taking to tackle age discrimination in Wales?
Caroline Jones: I’d like to thank the Welsh Conservatives for bringing forward this motion today. The Welsh Government’s national strategy aims to improve the health and well-being of Wales. Like the Welsh Conservatives, I am disappointed there are no clear, measurable targets for the health service. I welcome the ambition behind the Welsh Government’s strategy, but without clear, measurable outcomes,...
Caroline Jones: Thank you for your statement, Cabinet Secretary. Neurological conditions affect tens of thousands of people in Wales and this latest delivery plan will hopefully build upon the improvements made to the services designed to assist those people. While a number of neurological conditions present at birth, a large number can present at any time in life. It is therefore important that we raise...
Caroline Jones: My view regarding the potential building of a prison in Baglan, Port Talbot—and I live in Port Talbot—has always been that public consultation is extremely important, along with risk assessments, environmental factors—for example, traffic congestion—and, as previously mentioned, flooding in the area. We must also take into consideration alternative suitable sites. But should the above...
Caroline Jones: I’d like to thank our Chair of the health committee, and also thank all of the other members on the committee and the people who gave evidence for us to proceed. Problems with recruitment and retention of front-line staff, clinicians in particular, have been well documented in recent years, and we must ensure that we tackle this issue robustly. Staff shortages have led to increased...
Caroline Jones: Cabinet Secretary, the findings of ABMU’s internal report on Kris Wade stated that they did not robustly pursue complaints and stated, in effect, that there was a culture in some areas of basing actions on, I quote, ‘the believability of patients’ is absolutely shocking. I note, and fully supported the calls of the BMA and other opposition parties that there should be an independent...
Caroline Jones: We welcome the interim report and the frankness of it, and we will support the report today. As the NHS is a major employer in Wales and therefore plays a significant role in the Welsh economy, it is important that this budget is spent wisely, so that patients can, in their time of need, receive care and support that will be delivered in a confident, efficient and caring manner. With wise...
Caroline Jones: Thank you for your statement, Minister. I welcome the delivery plan. Since the implementation of the smoking ban, it is good news that smoking in the home has reduced from 80 per cent to 46 per cent. ASH Wales says that this suggests that there is a better understanding of the dangers of second-hand smoke, especially around children and families. Therefore, although we look at this as a 34...
Caroline Jones: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Finally, less than half of cancer patients have the opportunity to discuss their needs, and only 18 per cent of patients were offered a written care plan. Care plans are not only focused on healthcare needs, but they also pick up on emotional, financial and practical support. Less than half of Welsh patients were given information on financial support and...
Caroline Jones: Thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary. Staying with the Wales cancer patient experience survey, nearly a quarter of patients said that the GP didn’t take their symptoms seriously before their diagnosis. In fact, 6 per cent of patients stated they had to see their GP at least five times before being referred to hospital. As stated in the cancer delivery plan, detecting cancer earlier...
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, the second Wales cancer patient experience survey has, once again, highlighted the fact that many cancer patients still do not have a key worker. While we have made progress, 14 per cent of patients still don’t have a key worker, and more than a quarter of patients said it was often difficult to contact the key worker. The survey also highlighted the...
Caroline Jones: First Minister, it is good news that Coleg Cymunedol y Dderwen is out of special measures, and the staff and pupils should be congratulated on making strong progress against the majority of Estyn’s recommendations. First Minister, what help is your Government giving to the school to ensure they make better progress in improving the numeracy and literacy of pupils, and how will your...
Caroline Jones: I’m pleased to be co-sponsoring this motion before us today and I thank David Melding for bringing about this debate, which is very important. It is unacceptable that Wales is the only home nation without a specialist paediatric rheumatology service or a dedicated multidisciplinary team. As a result, children in Wales who suffer from juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile onset systemic...
Caroline Jones: I’d like to first of all thank Julie, the cross-party group, and everyone else who was involved in bringing about this inquiry. Cabinet Secretary, I think it’s wonderful news that we are finally getting a public inquiry into this terrible scandal. My close friend, Faye Denny, lost her brother, Owen Denny, who died as a result of contaminated blood. Now, Owen, and his family and the...
