Vaughan Gething: Okay. So, I can say that, in terms of the increase in out-patient activity, from April, when, of course, we made the choice—which I think was the right choice—to end lots of activity within our healthcare system, and elective care and out-patients in particular, lots of those were paused to allow us time to prepare for the wave that we knew was coming, and we then had—. Lots of members...
Vaughan Gething: I think there are a couple of points to make. The Member correctly highlights the significant difference in the number of people waiting a long time, and that is one of the harms that we specifically recognise in needing to balance in all of the action we're taking during the course of the pandemic. There are a number of things that we have done to enable appointments to go ahead, in primary...
Vaughan Gething: Yes. The Welsh Government is working closely with all health boards to ensure that, when services can be delivered, the most urgent patients are seen first. During the pandemic, the available capacity has been reduced to enable appropriate social distancing and improved infection prevention and control measures to be implemented.
Vaughan Gething: I have recently approved the award of £220 million of capital funding for phase 2 of the refurbishment programme of Prince Charles Hospital. This investment will both enhance patient care and the working environment at the hospital whilst providing an economic boost for the community through local labour and sub-contractors.
Vaughan Gething: To prepare for this winter, health boards have plans to double bed numbers with the potential to triple capacity if needed. Since 2017 we have been increasing the number of postgraduate training places in intensive care medicine, and set out a programme for improving critical care, backed by £15 million funding.
Vaughan Gething: A short, sharp firebreak was introduced across the whole of Wales on Friday 23 October until Monday 9 November to help regain control of coronavirus. The First Minister set out how new national rules will replace the local lockdown restrictions in an oral statement to Plenary on 3 November.
Vaughan Gething: Welsh Government continues to work in social partnership with employers and health unions to make available appropriate and accessible support for our dedicated healthcare workers. There is a plethora of support resources available offering different intervention styles and levels which can be accessed on HEIW’s COVID-19 webpages.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Llywydd. I thank Members for their various contributions to the debate. I thank the member of the committee; we'll respond in detail to the points that he's made, so there will be a written response as usual to the committee to deal with each of the merits points to the scrutiny. Of course, as one of the later contributors mentioned, we're having this debate today, but the...
Vaughan Gething: All non-essential retail, leisure, hospitality and tourism businesses have closed—so too community centres, libraries and recycling centres. Places of worship have closed, except for funerals or wedding ceremonies. And people must not meet others they do not live with, either indoors or outdoors. Adults living alone, though, and single parents remain able to join with one other household,...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I move the motion before us to approve the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 3) (Wales) Regulations 2020. We are now in the second week of the firebreak, and I want to start by reminding Members why we introduced these extraordinary measures on 23 October. We continue to be faced with a very real and increasing public health threat. At the...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for your comments, and I admire your ability not to properly swear when interrupted. In terms of the challenge that the health board faces, I think we should have more confidence in their ability to deliver. That comes from the tripartite review, and I wouldn't be making this significant and different approach in announcing an investment package of this sort over three and a half...
Vaughan Gething: I simply don't agree with the opening statement that the Member makes that this reads like any one of the statements in the last five and a half years. There have been various points in time where statements over the last five and half years have been much more downbeat about where we have been. The fact is that, at various points in time, maternity and out-of-hours have come out, which shows...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the questions. I'll start with your final point on mental health. The health board has its own strategy that it has developed together with partners outside of the health service, 'Together for Mental Health in North Wales'. That sets out an approach to continuing the transformation and improvement of mental health services and we've had good feedback from partner organisations...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I want to update Members today on the progress that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has made to address the issues that led it to be placed in special measures in 2015. Together with my officials and the health board, I remain focused on the work to secure ongoing sustainable improvements. The heath board has recently submitted a comprehensive and...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, acting Deputy Presiding Officer. I want to start by saying 'thank you' to all Members who contributed to the debate, but in particular to Alun Davies and Mick Antoniw for sharing their personal experience. Just as with last week and the debate on endometriosis, I think it is powerful—not just for other Members, but for the watching public—where Members share their own...
Vaughan Gething: We've decided that a short and deep firebreak is the best option for minimising harm. The longer the restrictions are in place, the greater the economic, social and well-being impacts. The restrictions are as stringent as possible to ensure the maximum public health impact. Between Friday, 23 October and 9 November, everyone in Wales will be required to stay at home. This means working from...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Llywydd. I move the motion before us today. I'm grateful to Members for voting to allow today's debate to take place, and to Plaid Cymru for the talks that led to the text of the Government motion before us. The First Minister announced yesterday that a firebreak will be introduced across Wales from 6.00 p.m. this Friday. We face an incredibly serious situation. The virus is...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, acting Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you to Members for their comments. I'm pleased to note the comments from the Chair of the scrutiny committee about improvements in the provision of information and data that underpin the choices that Ministers are making. I'm pleased to see that the Welsh Conservatives will be supporting both sets of regulations. And in an entirely...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, acting Deputy Presiding Officer. I formally move the two sets of regulations before us today and ask Members to support them. Once again, these regulations were introduced under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 through emergency procedures to support our ongoing action to deal with the real and continuing threat posed by coronavirus. The Health Protection...
Vaughan Gething: The task and finish group's report did, however, recommend research in a number of other areas, including the development of an effective symptom awareness tool, evaluation of the follow-up processes after surgery, a multidisciplinary approach to symptom management, development of educational resources, and ongoing monitoring of patient outcomes to understand if we are being more successful....
