3. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: The Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Bill

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:43 pm on 18 June 2019.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 3:43, 18 June 2019

Thank you for the series of questions and comments. There is broad support for the duty of quality and the duty of candour. Both the Green Paper and the White Paper consultations showed there was widespread support. You'll know about the broader issue of quality; there are a lot of commentators who think it's the right thing to do. I referred in my statement to the OECD's advice and, indeed, that's validated by the parliamentary review and duty of candour that you know came from the Francis inquiry into Mid Staffs.

Those things are, of course, worthwhile doing, and we are at this point because we've had proper consultations at the end of the last Assembly term. The Green Paper and our White Paper are now ready to come forward with legislative proposals. I reject any suggestion, inference or otherwise, that this has been deliberately held up or, indeed, that this is simply hiding the dagger about a desire to get rid of patient voice and patient representation. Far from it. And when Members go through the detail of the Bill and the policy intent, I hope that some of the statements and accusations made and the suspicions that have been regularly repeated will actually give way to some of the facts and the reality of what we are seeking to do in strengthening the voice of citizens across health and social care.