Part of 4. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:27 pm on 5 February 2020.
Well, there's not much there that I agreed with, and the tone in which Darren Millar with real relish attacks individuals doesn't do him any credit at all. I saw the press release he issued about Simon Dean, and I have to say, to speak in the terms in which he has done about someone with 37 years of NHS experience, who's capable, committed and respected across the national health service, I just don't think that highly personal attack does Darren Millar any credit at all, and I really do think he should reconsider, withdraw and apologise for the comments he's made about Simon Dean.
And he should recognise that, actually, in terms of Simon Dean's previous time within the health board, it did make progress, and that's part of the not just disappointment but the challenge in where we are because progress did start to be made on a range of measures during his time there. So, on primary care, on maternity, and even on mental health, progress was made during his time, and yet, during the longer period of time, the approximately four years—the last four years—we've seen the health board go backwards on performance and on finance, too.
Now, the health board have made a choice about changing the executive leadership, and the challenge now is how we have a new leadership in place, not just interim, but a permanent leadership to actually undertake the further progress that's plainly required on performance and finance against the special measures framework that I set out in November of last year, and that's my very clear expectation. I know very well that people will be looking at what happens in practical terms, both the public and of course the staff who work at that health board, and I will, of course, be reporting back to this place and I look forward to having questions next week. People have a regular opportunity to ask me questions; that's part of the job. I'm certainly not contemplating leaving this job. I'm looking forward to doing the job and continuing to make a real difference.