Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and Plaid Cymru is pleased to support this motion today. We are not happy with the proposals that the Government is indeed trying to rush through with little scrutiny, it seems, and what could only be described as a sham consultation, and, yes, we too have noticed the scramble to arrange focus groups close to the consultation deadline—indicative, I think, of how this is being handled, with the consultation being regarded almost as an oversight.

Now, last week, that quick appeal was made on a personal Facebook account by an individual who had been charged with running a number of focus groups, we are told, to discuss the matter, admitting that it was, as we heard, a ‘tight turnaround’, and it certainly was. The consultation period is nearly over. Somebody did suggest that CHCs could be invited to those focus groups, but a reply stated that, as the White Paper proposes their abolition, they may not be too keen to take part. Now, individuals, certainly, who sit on community health councils have got in touch with the organisers of these focus groups and have been told, in no uncertain terms, that they are not to represent the views of community health councils in those focus group meetings, and to be there as ordinary citizens and nothing else. This is not the way that consultations should take place, and the Government has been found out. But a flawed consultation isn’t the sole reason for our concerns; we simply don’t agree with the proposals.

The first objection: the proposals to remove the independence of our community health councils. Now, the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee noted this was the effect of similar proposals in Scotland. Now, we’re all for learning from Scotland where it fits, and they have, without doubt, got a lot of things right, but learning also involves learning from mistakes. We can look at a whole host of countries and the way that they tackle issues similar to ones that we need to tackle here in Wales. But it’s not just looking at what they’ve done in Scotland or anywhere else that is important, but looking at the effects of actions that have been taken, and I think making such a body like a community health council too close to Government goes against everything that we have known about how to make such bodies effective, and Scotland have found that out after their experience with changes to governance and the oversight of health in Scotland. Hence, our amendments that we urge you to support today, and I’m grateful to the party opposite for indicating that they will be supporting that amendment today.

Another objection: the notion that because Healthcare Inspectorate Wales do inspections we don’t need another body going into hospitals. Dare I remind the Minister that it wasn’t so long ago that HIW was heavily criticised by a committee in this Assembly, and indeed it failed to spot the poor care that was going on in the Princess of Wales Hospital? Having duplication of inspection is a good thing, and adds an additional layer of protection. And, no, CHCs aren’t an inspectorate, but they know, from far more visits to hospitals, it must be said, than are conducted by HIW, what goes on in our hospitals, and crucially there is a different kind of oversight. CHCs offer a particularly important element: they measure the patient experience. And if we are to provide a better experience for our patients, ensuring that hospitals provide for them what they need and deserve and require, then we will not be succeeding in giving Wales the kind of NHS that it needs.

Now, we’re not arguing for the preservation of CHCs as they are. I haven’t heard anybody from any CHC arguing that, forever and a day, community health councils should remain. What we are arguing for is the maintaining of their function in being an effective voice for patients in Wales. What we have in this White Paper are proposals that take away the voice of the patient. These proposals do not give patients in Wales the security, the support and the voice that they need. So, I’m afraid it’s back to the drawing board.