Access to CAMHS In-patient Care

Part of 4. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:33 pm on 3 April 2019.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 3:33, 3 April 2019

I think there were two questions there. In relation to the second one, about the model and the quality of placements outside of Wales, I think I dealt with that in response to questions asked by Lynne Neagle in her supplementary. And I'll certainly be addressing that to provide a written level of detail to the two committees, as I've indicated in the undertakings I've given in response to Lynne Neagle's questions.

On your other question, about capacity and need, I'm happy to give her—and all Members—the assurance that my expectation is that we should put ourselves into a position where NHS Wales only helps to place children and young people outside of Wales where it's their need that drives that, rather than capacity. And so we will, of course, need to look at the capacity that we have and to see that that is matching need. The guidance—it is guidance, as opposed to a hard-and-fast rule from the royal college—suggests that we have sufficient capacity, if we're able to sufficiently staff those. And it's actually north Wales where there's more of an issue about appropriate staffing. We will then be able to—with the commissioned capacity in Tŷ Llidiard, we expect that staffing isn't going to be a concern—make sure that all those beds are properly and safely staffed. So, I'm happy to confirm that this is not a matter of simply tolerating forever and a day the fact that people are being placed outside of Wales when it's not their care needs that drive that placement.