Accountability in the Welsh NHS

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:01 pm on 16 July 2019.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 2:01, 16 July 2019

Well, Llywydd, I just want to put on record the fact that, in terms of accountability, all our boards in Wales have model standing orders, all have standing financial instructions, they all have a behavioural code and they all have an accountability code. So, accountability in the Welsh NHS is something that has been part of the culture of the service since its inception, and has been further reinforced during the period of devolution. There is a further period now in which Members can engage with this agenda.

The Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Bill is in front of the Assembly. It will allow any Member who has proposals to make that can address deficits as they see them in the way that the health service operates to put those ideas forward to have them rehearsed in front of the scrutiny committee. But let me just say this, Llywydd: politicians don't sack public service employees in Wales. That is not the way that the system operates, and nor should it. Where things go wrong and where people make mistakes—and sometimes worse than mistakes—then there is an accountability system through professional organisations and employment law, and that needs to be effective. But we don't make those decisions on the floor of this Assembly—nor should we.