Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 1:55 pm on 14 March 2018.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 1:55, 14 March 2018

I don't hide—[Interruption.] I don't hide from the challenges for our staff or citizens. To use such deliberately inflammatory language about our healthcare system I think really does not reflect well on you, Rhun ap Iorwerth. I don't hide from the individual challenges. On either of the points you make, I obviously can't comment on what happened in individual cases, but I will remind you again about the reason and the rationale for introducing the clinical response model—not simply clinical opinion, but the evidence about how we run our ambulance system and whether or not we're getting the help to people in the most urgent and life-threatening emergency cases. And the previous system—there's a lot of evidence, accepted by people across this Chamber and outside—did not serve the interests of the patient well. We had a number of categories for an eight-minute response that simply did not make sense. We reviewed the evidence and it showed that—no surprise—a 40-year-old system was out of date. We then had clinical evidence and advice on an improved system to prioritise people in the greatest need. That was supported by front-line paramedic staff. It was supported by leadership within the ambulance service and the wider health service. That's the model we've implemented.

We have also, though, had an independent review of the new system and that review was looking at the categorisation of calls. So, rather than politicians arguing with each other about which particular condition should be in which particular category, we're again looking at a proper evaluation and a proper basis upon which to make that choice. That must be the right way to proceed, not to have a campaign-led approach to which condition should be in which category, but to have proper evidence and clinical advice on what to do and then to do the right thing—[Interruption.] And then to do the right thing by staff within the whole system and by the people of Wales we are supposed to be here to serve.