Hywel Dda University Health Board

Part of 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 3:16 pm on 25 April 2018.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 3:16, 25 April 2018

I've been very clear that this is a public consultation for members of the public to get involved with. I've also been very clear there's got to be clinical leadership about any other proposals, which is why it was important that clinicians took part not only in a presentation and conversation at board, they've got to be part of the conversation with the public. If I intervene now and if I say that, actually, it does not matter what clinicians themselves have come up with—it does not matter what comes from the public consultation—I will determine that for them, that actually will stop healthcare innovation and progress and reform in every part of the country. It matters that a conversation takes place, it matters that people are focused on delivering better healthcare and it matters that we're in a position as a country to make difficult choices. That is the challenge set for us by the parliamentary review. It tells us on the one hand that there is a good evidence base that some specialist services should be delivered in a smaller number of centres across the country—that will involve, for any community, greater travel—but also that we're able to provide more services within a wider network of community healthcare. Where those proposals come forward, where they're agreed with a clear clinical strategy, the Government will do what it can do to get alongside that. If we are to do that, if we are to meet the challenge set for us, which everybody in theory accepted in the parliamentary review, then we have to be able to have a difficult public consultation and the Government has to play its part as the potential ultimate decision maker.