8. What recent discussions has the Counsel General had with the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the impact of Brexit on the Welsh NHS? OAQ53811

I thank the Member for her question. The Minister for Health and Social Services and I are in regular and frequent contact, as is the case with all Ministers, to discuss the Welsh Government's responses to the range of distinct and unwelcome challenges that Brexit poses to Wales.

I'm grateful to the Counsel General for his response. Of course, there are many of us here that are hoping that this will not be a situation that we have to face, but, given that it may be, we now do have some further months, as you said in your response to Huw Irranca-Davies, to try to prepare for what the worst-case scenario might be. I wonder if, in discussion with the Minister for Health and Social Services, the Counsel General will take this opportunity to take a further look at the workforce issues in Wales that may arise, particularly in the health service and in care services if people either feel unable to remain or feel unwelcome as citizens of the EU, and of course, looking forward, particularly care services may not be able to recruit any longer as effectively as they have in the past from the EU. Whatever we think about this delay, it does at least give us some time to look at what those gaps are likely to be and to begin to take some steps to support health and care bodies in trying to meet those gaps if it comes to it.   

I thank the Member for her supplementary. I think she hits the nail on the head. Our health services and our care services, perhaps in particular, depend on EU citizens to provide an essential service, often to very vulnerable individuals. She will know, I know, of the work that we've been doing to understand the dimensions of that. We've identified, and I've mentioned in the Chamber previously, that there is a particular issue around registered nurses in social care, where the numbers of those who are EU citizens are very considerable and higher than in the workforce in general. 

We will be ensuring that we understand and provide support in relation to the workforce in the health and social care services generally. I know the Minister is very focused on that. It's important for the Government at large, and we are looking at what cross-cutting work the Government can do to understand the impact that decisions elsewhere can have as well on some of these workforce questions in our health and social care services. I will also say that I think that there are other dimensions that come from the question of a time delay, which we also will be looking at, so that interventions that might be appropriate in looking to a March departure need to be revisited to see if they're appropriate in the context of a potential October departure. So, all of these dimensions are certainly ones that are currently live and under consideration by the Government.

And finally, Janet Finch-Saunders.

Diolch, Llywydd. Our health staff are the cornerstone of our NHS, many of these originating from the European Union. In Wales, 4 per cent of GPs and 15 per cent of dentists gain their primary medical qualification in the European Economic Area. According to the report entitled, 'The Public Health Implications of Brexit in Wales: A Health Impact Assessment Approach', Brexit creates a positive potential to attract skilled workers into key sectors to Wales from within the UK and non-EU nations. Counsel General, in addition to reassuring EU nationals that they are valued and still required in Wales, will you state what action the Welsh Government is taking to attract medical professionals from non-EU nations?

We—. I'm not quite sure where to start with that, really. We've been absolutely clear, and I wish that she and Members in her party would be slightly clearer than perhaps you have been, on this issue of how important it is for our health and care services to continue to be able to rely on the services of very valued employees and workers who are from the European Union. We've taken particular steps—she mentions qualifications in her question—to ensure that those qualifications continue to be recognised and respected here in Wales and across the UK. She describes Brexit as an opportunity. I'm afraid to say that, in this particular context, I think that is probably one of the more bizarre reflections. I think Brexit is a threat to the workforces in these places across Wales, and it is incumbent on us all in this place to remind EU citizens working in our public services across Wales that they are valued and welcomed and that they continue to be valued and welcomed in the coming months and years.

Thank you to the Counsel General.