7. Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services: How Digital Technology is Improving Primary Care

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:24 pm on 6 February 2018.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 6:24, 6 February 2018

'Half of practices in Wales will be forced into changing their clinical system. Practices have not been consulted. Practices have not been given a reason. We're told that EMIS have failed to reach standards. What is apparent is that whoever made this decision has absolutely no idea of the upheaval this will cause practices who are already under pressure.'

Now, I am very concerned about the effect of this change. Can I ask, in the context of your statement today on the need to get digital right in primary care, what support Welsh Government will give to surgeries to get them through this change, including financial support? Because investment has been made in hardware to go along with a system that has only been introduced in the past three or four years. What does that tell you, Cabinet Secretary, about the need, as we roll out new digital right across the NHS, for getting it right and futureproofing because we can't operate in a way that is not strategic? It is costly and it means that we cannot get a system that works both for NHS staff and for patients.