Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 8:40 pm on 10 March 2020.
Diolch, Llywydd. To be an effective champion, the citizen voice body must be heard. The community health councils have been an effective champion for Welsh patients, in part, because of their right to be heard. Public bodies have to take notice of representations made by CHCs. The amendments tabled by Angela and Rhun extend this duty to the citizen voice body. If this new body is to be our voice, public bodies should have to listen to what they have to say. We no longer live in an era when healthcare was dictated to us; patients have a right to be involved in their own health and care. It is therefore essential that the citizen's voice be heard when it comes to planning and delivering services and changes to those services. Without amendments 41 and 42, the new body is a citizens' body, but without a voice.