Part of 3. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport – in the Senedd at 3:33 pm on 1 March 2017.
I’m not able to tell you today the sort of data that you’re asking—. I think it’s a fairly complex exercise to undertake. I’ll see if it is possible to do, but to be able to say whether it’s been a challenge to the district nursing service that’s led to an admission that’s led to a challenge in waiting times, I think is some ask, regardless of the identity of the Minister, or the civil servants available to them.
But I recognise the point that, actually, the district nursing service is an important part of the care that’s going to keep people in their own homes, and to maintain a level of independence for them. I recently had the opportunity, with my constituency Member hat on, to accompany members of the Royal College of Nursing, in my own constituency, to see some of the variety in the service that they provide—and, actually, quite complex healthcare provision, compared with what you might think takes place, including end-of-life care, recovery from significant injury, and those people who simply aren’t able to get around as they would wish to.
So, I’ve seen for myself the direct value that district nurses provide, in both recovery, rehabilitation, but also in prevention as well. And I’m happy to confirm that the £95 million investment I announced recently, in the future of healthcare training and education, does include a 13 per cent increase in nurse training. So, we recognise the value of district nurses, and we recognise the need to continue to increase, not simply to replace, but to think about how we increase nursing numbers in those areas of particular demand.