Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:57 pm on 13 September 2016.
I thank the Member for the question and the comments, and it is fair to say that there is a positive ambition and vision from Cardiff and Vale health board. You’re right to point out the significant progress that has been made and sustained on waiting times in A&E and, indeed, in cancer care as well. There’s more to do but we do recognise progress that the health board has made. On your broader points about financing the different challenges that people face in delivering healthcare in different parts of Wales, every health board has its own case to make as to why it’s in a unique position and why that needs to be reflected in the funding that it receives, whether it’s delivering healthcare in a rural setting, delivering healthcare to deprived Valleys populations or delivering healthcare to other fast growing cities in the country as well. We consider all those things in the round about the future of funding. In working alongside Cardiff and Vale health board, I expect to see progress made and I expect to see us in a position where they will have an approvable three-year plan at the end of this year. This is absolutely about having progress on that area and not about throwing aside or refusing to recognise the real progress they have made, which I’ve pointed out to staff when I’ve met them on a number of occasions as well as the leadership of the health board as well.