Part of 2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport – in the Senedd at 3:13 pm on 9 November 2016.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. I was recently contacted by an 87-year-old constituent who was in need of an out-of-hours appointment following a problem with a catheter in the early hours of the morning. A home visit was requested by phone at 11.00 a.m. and a visit booked. A doctor didn’t finally arrive until 8.00 p.m., nine hours later, after several phone calls in the meantime. The doctor then advised an ambulance to hospital. That arrived. My constituent says that, throughout, the staff who dealt with him were second to none, but he was really concerned about the delays involved in the out-of-hours service that he experienced, and he asked me if I would raise it with you in the Chamber. I wonder if you could take a look at this case—I am happy to provide you with the details—and whether you could tell us what advice and guidance you’re giving to the local health boards to try and make sure that these types of delays are, at the very least, kept to a minimum.