Part of 1. 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:53 pm on 27 September 2016.
I thank the First Minister for that answer. I had better declare an interest, as my wife—it’s in the register of interests—is a radiographer. She also has very cold hands, so I warn people in advance. [Laughter.] In Wales, 50 per cent of people—[Interruption.] She does. [Laughter.] Fifty per cent of the population of Wales will be over 65 by 2037. There is now a higher proportion of people aged 85 plus as we speak. The increase in chronic conditions and comorbidity, resulting in complex health needs, is documented and is there for all to see. This will require a real determination to deliver the Welsh Government’s strategy and to align that workforce toward primary care and picking them up where we can actually keep people in a well-being service, not a rescue and an illness service. So, will he congratulate my wife and all of those who work in allied health and social care professions, and congratulate also Dave Rees for hosting an event last week at which all of those professions were there? They deserve our thanks and our gratitude. They have a huge role to play.