<p>Neonatal Services</p>

Part of 2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport – in the Senedd at 3:08 pm on 9 November 2016.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 3:08, 9 November 2016

Thank you for all the follow-up questions. Of course, when we have our trainee nurse numbers we expect to have an intake, and there are challenges for us to discover and deliver on to make sure that we actually retain those nurses within the Welsh system if at all possible. There’s also a problem with general nurse recruitment anyway. You’ll know that there is a general challenge across western Europe, in fact, in recruiting and retaining nurses. It isn’t something unique to Wales, but it does mean that we are in a very, very competitive market, just as with some parts of doctor recruitment.

I don’t think that we’re going to get to the point where the commitments that this Government has made are going to be undeliverable. The challenge is how we do it, but what should provide some confidence is that, in a range of areas, we’ve already seen a significant increase in some of the nursing numbers. For example, in west Wales, you’ll be aware following the question last week, that one of the things that has been done with the new model is a significant improvement in nurse recruitment and retention. So, it is possible. It’s part of what we expect to see. We need to make sure that the models of care that we provide are attractive to keep nurses there to provide high-quality care. But, of course, you will see—in a very open way, through each year—a range of information about the nurse numbers we have in neonatal services. And we will, of course, report against those national standards. My interest is to make sure that we meet those national standards and we continue to evidence a real improvement in outcomes for mothers and babies as well.