Russell George: —what you've just said. I do appreciate what you've just said, and you're willingness to look at the way you measure those figures, because perhaps it would be the correct piece of work for the Government to undertake, to make that comparison. Because what would those figures then be able to tell us? They would be able to tell us we're still in the same position—that the Welsh Government...
Russell George: I appreciate, Minister, your personal commitment, and I appreciate you've only been in post for 12 months, and I appreciate you've been dealt a poor hand. But can I ask you for your assessment of why the Welsh Government is looking at this much worse position than that in any other part of the UK? And surely you've got to recognise failures to understand where improvements need to be made.
Russell George: Thanks for the answer, Minister, and whilst, of course, it's good news that that waiting time for a one-month period is coming down, but the long-term sustained trajectory is in the wrong direction of course. So, if we look back at 12 months ago, the figure was 7,600 and now it's 68,000. So, those are the figures over the last 12 months. And the numbers have, sadly, sky-rocketed in that...
Russell George: Diolch, Deputy Llywydd. Minister, like you, I was listening to the exchange between the leader of the opposition and the First Minister yesterday in regard to waiting times and that's a line of questioning I want to continue today. Can you confirm that the number of people waiting longer than two years for NHS treatment in Wales has increased by nearly 900 per cent in the past year?
Russell George: Minister, I had quite a lot of sympathy for the trials that were undertaken, but you mentioned the cost as well, and then justifying the cost. But I had a letter this morning from the Royal College of Nursing that was entitled 'How much is your and your loved ones' lives worth?' And the letter goes on to talk about that if we have more nurses, if we have a higher rate of pay, it will attract...
Russell George: Minister, I've reviewed your answer to the questions that Joel James asked you back in May, and I don't ask my question to debate whether glass bottles should be or not be included in the scheme; the reality is that the four nations of the UK are now likely to take a different approach. And that being the case, I'm keen to explore how the Welsh Government would limit any competitive...
Russell George: 4. Will the First Minister provide an update on the deposit-return scheme? OQ58360
Russell George: Thank you. The Minister talks about exemptions being in place, but doesn't this just confirm that this whole policy in the first place is back to front, and this is the wrong policy, an unfair policy, because the exemptions should have been considered at a much earlier stage, not now?
Russell George: Will you take an intervention?
Russell George: A very quick one.
Russell George: Yes. I will ask my last question in that case, Deputy Presiding Officer. How do you envisage your plan also addressing the short amount of time—I can't even read my own writing here, Minister. [Laughter.] My time is up, so I'll end with that, because I can't read my own handwriting.
Russell George: Can I thank the Minister for her statement today, and also take the opportunity to pay tribute to the NHS as it marks its seventy-fourth birthday today, and 74 years of remarkable service? Can I thank you, Minister, for the statement today and say I'm very pleased to hear that you, of course, recognise the inequalities that exist, inequalities that perhaps 18 months ago, before I took the...
Russell George: Diolch. Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. This is the first of two Welsh Conservative debate this afternoon, and I think the Minister will be pleased that our second debate isn't on health as well; she's had a busy afternoon, I know. I do move the motion in the name of my colleague Darren Millar this afternoon. Diabetes is a ticking time bomb and I don't think that we have talked...
Russell George: Yes. Absolutely, yes.
Russell George: Thank you, Altaf, for your intervention. I think it's not something we specifically looked into in our committee report, but I think, from our perspective, what's important to us is that the backlog comes down. We know, we’ve heard from other Members’ contributions this afternoon, that we can talk about statistics, but it's about the real impact on people's lives. Again, the Senedd...
Russell George: Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I thank Members for taking part in this debate today? Can I also add my thanks, really, to the clerking team and the research team at the Senedd, who support us very ably and do so much work behind the scenes? So, thank you very much, diolch yn fawr iawn for your work supporting us as Members. I think Gareth Davies pointed out in his contribution, of...
Russell George: We heard about people who are in pain, discomfort or experiencing anxiety. And we heard about people whose needs are becoming more complex, which puts more pressure on health services and on unpaid carers, who may be asked to take on more complex caring responsibilities. We also heard about people who are less able to work, study or undertake their usual caring responsibilities, and whose...
Russell George: Diolch, Llywydd. I’m pleased this afternoon to debate the Health and Social Care Committee’s report on the impact of the waiting times backlog. I move the motion in my name. What is important to say is that before the pandemic, people were already waiting far too long for diagnosis, care and treatment. COVID has of course made the situation worse across all specialities and all stages of...
Russell George: The concern that I have, First Minister, as indeed do cancer charities themselves, is about the pace at which the new diagnostic hubs or clinics are being rolled out. Can you tell me what the role of the diagnostics board will be in ensuring health boards develop these service models and hubs at a faster pace?
Russell George: Just to correct the record here, because I think what's important to say is that the Welsh Government were responsible for transport before Transport for Wales in terms of the infrastructure.
