Part of 2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport – in the Senedd at 2:35 pm on 13 July 2016.
It doesn’t sound as if a specific assessment has been made; I’m a little surprised about that. The uncertainty we’re facing is in danger of undermining the NHS, and we can’t afford to wait for the Government to take action. We will not go over the problems that Wales is facing now in terms of attracting and retaining doctors, but I will turn towards terms and conditions of the NHS staff. The Welsh Government, of course, has pledged not to copy what Jeremy Hunt has done in adopting a new contract for doctors. Does the Cabinet Secretary see it likely that we will see an end to pay discussions on a UK level in the next few years for all NHS staff, and what preparations is the Secretary undertaking to ensure that we have a specifically Welsh attitude towards pay and conditions that reflects the value of NHS staff, the need to retain experienced staff, and, of course, that shows young people that they can and they should be aiming for careers within the NHS in Wales.