5. 4. Statement: The Interim Report of the Parliamentary Review of Health and Social Care

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:27 pm on 11 July 2017.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 4:27, 11 July 2017

Thank you for the comments and questions. Again, in the report, one of the drivers that’s recognised is the significant expansion in our older population—we both import older people who want to retire to Wales, as well as more people who've been here for a longer period of time actually just living longer. And, as I said, it's a cause for celebration, but it does come with a challenge for us. And I think it's fair to say that, in discussions, not just with the Minister, Rebecca Evans, but also with Ken Skates, there's a recognition about the economic value of the care sector, in recognising it's a big employer already, and, if we improve the working conditions and the pay of people in that sector, there’s an economic impact as well, and often for, broadly, poorer people. People who go into the care sector tend not to be people from significantly economically advantaged backgrounds—certainly into the paid care sector—and there is something about raising the status of the profession, as I said earlier in response to Angela Burns, and also what we do about how we actually help the sector in actually understanding in the future what that looks like. That's why things like market position statements are important in taking forward the scheme of the social services and well-being Act, so people can make choices and decisions about the future, whether they are small independents within the sector or larger operators as well.

The point about capital planning—this is about the health and care estate. And, by that, I don't mean people's homes—you know, where people are constructing areas to provide health and care in primary care, secondary care, and, of course, in residential care as well. But there will be a need to think about, again, about our housing quality standards, because our housing associations are not just people who provide, if you like, standard social housing that people live in. Lots of the housing they provide are care homes, and they provide lots of extra care now as well. It's a developing feature, and the challenge will be: is what's being created really what we think is going to match the needs of the population we have now and in five and 10 years, and longer as well? And that's a challenge about how people do work across, not just the Government, but partners outside Government, too, as well.

And, on your point about funding, we specifically ruled out and didn't go into the funding of the future for the health and care system. The review’s remit is significant already. To add that in again would be even more of a problem, and, actually, general taxation funds a large part of what we’re talking about. To try and then say we’ll have a different view here—actually, there are wider, UK-wide questions about the funding of public services, not just in Wales, but across the UK.

Your final point, on carers—the Minister will have something positive to say, I believe, about how we actually provide more support for carers in the here and now to make sure they do have the opportunity for respite and a proper break, because that isn't something that we should put off until five or 10 years’ time.