8. Debate: The General Principles of the Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Bill

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:57 pm on 26 November 2019.

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Photo of Darren Millar Darren Millar Conservative 4:57, 26 November 2019

Yes. I just wanted to refer to the North Wales Community Health Council, because it is greatly appreciated, and I think what the problem is in our community health council movement, if I may put it as a problem, is that there's an inconsistency between the quality and the depth of the work in some community health councils when compared to others. So, for example, the value that's attributed to the North Wales Community Health Council is because of the excellent work that it does on advocacy, on speaking up for patients, and being a very effective patient watchdog. In my years as the shadow health Minister—I know that others in this Chamber will agree—I found there to be a great inconsistency in the way that community health councils engaged with members of the public, and the way that they supported them in raising their concerns. And, when you have a good model, you want everybody to have access to that model—you don't want to scrap it.