9. 5. Statement: Specialist and Critical Care Centre

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:26 pm on 1 November 2016.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 5:26, 1 November 2016

Thank you for the comments. Going back to the point about transport again, it’s a significant issue to get right for both private hire and private transport, as well as public service transport, to the site, thinking about the needs of patients and their abilities and also access for emergency services. I expect that local Members who were engaged directly in their conversations with the health board—I know they briefed local Members; they’re quite proactive, actually, in making sure that local Members are on board and understanding what is actually taking place.

I also think as well that it was helpful to hear the wide-range of services that the Members actually reminded others will now take place on this new site when it is delivered. But it’s important also to recognise that this is a project that’s maintained support, not just within the clinical community, but other public services in Gwent too. So, it does enjoy the support, and continues to enjoy the support, of all the local authorities in the Gwent area. Regardless of where it is physically situated, there’s been a recognition from those local authority partners that actually having a model that is a specialist care centre to deliver a proper model of care at this end is a good thing for all of the services around it. I’ll look forward to seeing that delivered on by local authority partners, by the health service and other wider stakeholders as well.