2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:54 pm on 29 January 2019.

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Photo of Bethan Sayed Bethan Sayed Plaid Cymru 2:54, 29 January 2019

Could I request that in light of today's publication of the Health Inspectorate Wales report into how ABMU health board handled the Kris Wade investigation and review, the health Minister initiates a debate in Government time on this issue and not only a written statement, which we were given today? After all, we were told that it would be ready in December, and it wasn't, so, I, if nobody else, have waited a long while for this report to come out. In it, it shows that there were clear governance failures that have not been addressed in several other reviews and reports. And this review has repercussions, not only for ABMU, but for other health boards. So, I would like to see a debate on the floor of this Chamber so that we can scrutinise the leadership of ABMU under its current chairmanship and also understand what exactly the Welsh Government is going to do differently that it hasn't done to date in all the other reviews that have happened in relation to this case and also to very serious cases in ABMU.

I'd also like to request a second statement from the health Minister on the independence of Healthcare Inspectorate Wales. Yesterday, a member of staff at Healthcare Inspectorate Wales told my office that a copy of the review would be made available under embargo from 6.00 p.m. yesterday, which it was. My staff asked HIW why the report was not being given to us until 6.00 p.m. and we were told that it was out of respect for families so that they could see the report first. However, today, I've been shown an e-mail from a journalist that showed that they were sent the report at 9 o'clock yesterday, before Assembly Members in this national institution, using the families and those suffering as a ruse not to show it to AMs to evade scrutiny. I find that shocking. I find that totally unacceptable. Therefore, I would like to have a statement from the Welsh Government to show how this happened and why AMs are not being respected when these reports are coming out.