Vaughan Gething: On your point about remote consultations so that people don't necessarily need to attend in person, we've already had a programme of work to do exactly that through the health service. For example, many people now can have advice about eye health conditions without actually needing to go and see a consultant. We've managed to improve access by making use of our primary care contractors in...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you for the questions. On personal protective equipment, I made the decision and the announcement over the weekend about protective equipment to go to general practice. We expect that to be completed within the week across the whole country, so, in Islwyn, obviously, I would expect that every practice within Islwyn will have that within that time frame. If any Member is aware that they...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you. We are currently identifying cases of the virus, isolating patients, and tracing anyone who has been in contact with them. If the disease becomes established in the UK, we will need to consider further measures to delay the rate and extent of its spread.
Vaughan Gething: Our approach to improving renal services is set out in the Welsh renal clinical network's delivery plan for renal services in Wales. The plan provides a framework for health boards setting out the expectations of the NHS in Wales to commission and deliver high quality patient centred care.
Vaughan Gething: We are committed to addressing child health inequalities in Wales. Our programme for government includes the healthy child Wales programme, which helps ensure that inequalities linked to poor child health are further reduced by delivering a universal set of health visitor contacts to all children in Wales, with additional support provided in response to identified need.
Vaughan Gething: The Welsh Government will continue to prioritise strategic action to drive change as set out in 'A Healthier Wales'. This includes, for example: the transformation programme and transformation fund; research, innovation and improvement; and supporting health and social care to work more closely together through the integrated care fund.
Vaughan Gething: It is worth perhaps reflecting on the fact that questions for myself have been moved to the first item of Assembly business tomorrow afternoon. That is to ensure that not only can I answer questions to Members, but also I do, then, have time to attend the COBRA call that is taking place tomorrow afternoon with other Governments across the United Kingdom. I'm sure we'll have ample opportunity...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Llywydd. The purpose of this amendment is to amend the Welsh Language Standards (No. 7) Regulations 2018 to refer to a 'citizen voice body' instead of 'community health councils' and 'the board of community health councils'. This will ensure that the new body will come under the regulations on establishment and that the Welsh Language Commissioner can issue a draft compliance...
Vaughan Gething: I do understand the sentiment behind the amendment, but I still don't believe it's necessary and so won't be supporting it. I certainly don't disagree that any public body or, indeed, any responsible employer, would provide information, advice and training to its staff and any volunteers that perform functions on its behalf. That's an inherent part of being able to deliver on its functions...
Vaughan Gething: Yes. I thank Members for their broad support, across a range of people, for the Government amendment. I think it's worth while pointing out that the reason why we think the current Government amendment complements is that it goes to the other duties that already exist, for example section 18, the duty on NHS bodies and local authorities to provide information that it reasonably requests; the...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Llywydd. I agree with the board of community health councils in its view that NHS bodies and local authorities could do much to support the new citizen voice body in reaching as many people as possible so that they can share their views and experience of the care and support they receive. I've considered the views of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee and wider...
Vaughan Gething: I think that's very positive, because it does show we're genuinely talking to and listening with people on all sides in the Chamber and outside to try to get this right, and to have a series of real examples about how the code should be applied. And, again, to reiterate my point, the code will start with the presumption that access will be agreed. This is not about unreasonably trying to...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you. I do recognise this is an area where there are differences of view, but we are genuinely trying to accommodate people on all sides in recognising some of the complexities that exist. And I recognise that Angela Burns has redrafted the amendment she tabled at Stage 2 because of the concerns about access to people's homes, but I still come back to the drafting that is still in here...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Llywydd. Following the Stage 2 debate, I met with opposition health spokespeople to discuss a number of issues, one of which, of course, was the question of access to premises, and we did have a constructive discussion. Officials have spoken to stakeholders who represent providers of health and social care, nurse directors of health boards and trusts, the Welsh Local Government...
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Llywydd. Members will be aware that section 18 of the Bill places a duty on NHS bodies and local authorities to supply the citizen voice body with such information as it reasonably requests for the purpose of carrying out its functions. The purpose of this amendment is to place a duty upon NHS bodies and local authorities to provide the citizen voice body with a written response...
Vaughan Gething: I'm sorry to have to disappoint Angela Burns again, but as Members will know, there were identical amendments on joint complaints tabled at Stage 2, as Angela Burns has indicated. I still don't believe the Bill would be a suitable vehicle to bring these changes forward. Responses to the White Paper consultation and subsequent consideration have indicated further engagement in the area is...
Vaughan Gething: Move.
Vaughan Gething: Can I just refer to amendment 42(6)? 'As soon as reasonably practicable, the recipient of the representation must publish the response prepared under subsection (4) on their website'. That leaves no room for any discretion whatsoever; the word 'must' in this drafting is very clear and unambiguous.
Vaughan Gething: Thank you, Llywydd. All of the amendments in this group relate to representations being made by the citizen voice body and the response that should be provided to them, but they, of course, have different permutations. And I do want to make clear again that, despite the language being used, refusing to agree to amendments 42 or 77 are not examples or evidence of bad faith, or a deliberate...
Vaughan Gething: Formally.
