Mortality figures in Welsh emergency departments

Part of 3. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:34 pm on 31 January 2018.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 3:34, 31 January 2018

Well, no-one could fail to recognise the grief that you clearly feel about the loss of your father. And I really am sorry for your loss. My job, in undertaking this role on behalf of the people of Wales, is to look at how we improve services across the system, to understand how individual examples can be used to learn from, and that's the way in which we set out quality improvement within our system. We don't just empower, we expect people to be a part of improving the quality within our service. And, actually, in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, they have a better than average mortality after surgery, both elective and non-elective surgery. So, it actually has a good overall record. Now, that does not mean that there will never be a mistake that is made, because we don't have perfection in our system, and it's not a standard that it's fair to hold anyone to in delivering the national health service. But we'll always look for further improvement, and, for all the passion and the grief that exists and I do recognise from the Member, I don't think that I should willingly accept the accusations that are made about my integrity and interest in the national health service. I'm in the business of public life because I want to help make our country better. Doing this job is a real privilege, and I absolutely have a significant interest in the past, the present and the future of the national health service. That's why I'm doing this job. That's why I'll continue to do this job, and to work alongside people in every part of our national health service to try and make sure that the future is a better one, and that we do the maximum we can do with the resources we have to deliver better healthcare in every community in Wales, and that is absolutely my honest and sincere commitment.