5. Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services: Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board — Special Measures Update

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:54 pm on 6 November 2018.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 3:54, 6 November 2018

Thank you for that range of comments and questions. I will, of course, keep the Chamber up to date on progress with special measures. As we have the reports and the updates on the special measures, I fully expect that statements will be made in this Chamber for Members to ask questions.

I just want to correct a point at the outset: 24,000 people have not had to make new arrangements themselves for GP services. The health board has always managed those arrangements, either in partnership with surrounding general practice or, indeed, by running a managed service until that service is able to go back into the usual manner of delivering general practice services. So, it isn't that people have to go out and make their own arrangements, it is about the health board still managing and delivering that service. There is, though, within north Wales, for the significant challenge that there is in GP clusters—and I recognise that, I've met a range of GPs and others in north Wales, just as around the country—. The appointment of the new exec director for primary and community care is a real step forward—somebody who is a primary care clinician who has trust and credibility within the service and is now in a place to try and bring people together to have a more positive plan for the future and for what could be done, who understands the real challenges of colleagues, not just in general practice as doctors, but the nurses and the therapists and others as well.