2. Will the First Minister make a statement on patient advocacy services in Wales? (OAQ51134)

Yes. We’re committed to providing effective patient advocacy services in Wales. Services are provided to adults by community health councils, and local health boards are responsible for arranging the provision of advocacy services to children and specialist mental health advocates.

Thank you. During our debate recently, your Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport was very much in favour of abolishing community health councils and replacing them with a new body. This is despite an inordinate amount of public objection. How ironic then, First Minister, that, in my most recent correspondence with the Cabinet Secretary regarding a problematic constituent case, he has had the audacity to suggest that I recommend to my constituents approaching their CHC, in effect passing the buck for the shortcomings of his, and your, health service. First Minister, would you not agree with me that this is rather duplicitous of the Cabinet Secretary, and would you also place on record your acknowledgement and support of the work that the community health councils and their volunteers have carried out on behalf of our patients as an advocacy service over many years?

Duplicitous—that’s the word of the day. I think we had that yesterday from the Secretary of State for Wales in his widely ignored speech. [Laughter.] I don’t accept at all that the Cabinet Secretary has been in any way duplicitous. Of course, he would refer a constituent of yours to an independent advocacy service. That’s what exists under the current structure and that’s what will exist in the future—an independent service. The Minister cannot be by nature independent, so I think the answer he’s given to you is absolutely correct: that if your patient needs advocacy, it is right that that advocacy service should be independent. It’s right, then, that it is the community health council, as they provide that service at this moment in time, and—we look to see, of course, what the responses will be to the White Paper—your constituent, I believe, has been given the right advice, based on what you’ve told me in the Chamber today.

First Minister, the Welsh Government, in January 2017, announced veterans and armed forces champions of health boards and NHS trusts in Wales. The Aneurin Bevan Local Health Board, which covers my constituents in Islwyn, named Brian Mawby as the champion. Congratulations to him. What impact does the First Minister believe these champions are having on ensuring that local service plans provide support, and that their local plans reflect the needs and priorities of the brave men and women of Wales who have bravely served our nation in our armed forces?

Very much so. We know, of course, that there are very effective champions in many aspects of public life in Wales, and they do much to influence positively the direction of the Government and, indeed, public bodies and agencies. So, yes, I very much recognise the work that your constituent has done, as many others have done across Wales, because they add to the knowledge the Government has in order for Government to act in the most appropriate way for the people.

First Minister, an independent patient voice is vital, particularly for those who can’t make themselves heard. We have made huge progress in providing advocates for people with mental health issues, but patient advocacy services are also vital to people with dementia. There have been calls for every person with dementia to have access to a skilled and independent advocate who understands dementia and is equipped to advocate effectively. First Minister, do you support this view and will you outline the actions your Government is taking to improve advocacy services for people with dementia?

Well, health boards are responsible for arranging the provision of general patient advocacy services for children, and children and young people in receipt of mental health care can be further supported to raise concerns through accessing independent mental health advocacy. All health boards in Wales have in place arrangements to provide mental health advocates trained in working with children and young people—that’s true. And, of course, we want to make sure that the patient voice is strengthened when it comes to mental health services for adults. We’ve done much, of course, to assist those organisations who are helping people and their families who are dealing with dementia, such as, for example, by pushing forward with dementia-friendly places so that people can go and live their lives as long as possible and in as familiar an environment as possible.