3. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:31 pm on 22 April 2020.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 3:31, 22 April 2020

Thank you, Llywydd. I think there were eight separate points made. I indicated we had about a week's supply of fluid-resistant gowns, we expect to receive more this week, but I was trying to be open with people about the position, and indeed staff and the public.

On hospice care, I did announce extra money for the hospice sector. PPE guidance needs to be followed within that sector as well, and as I say, the equipment, the PPE that we're providing is for use across health and social care, and obviously used appropriately and where necessary within hospices.

On the RCN survey, the key point is that I expect people to take up those issues with employers. We have well-rehearsed social partnership meetings here in Wales, and pretty much an open-door approach. In fact, the RCN and other trade unions themselves take part in a weekly meeting with me so they can raise issues directly with me. It's important that those individual issues are taken up with employers in the first instance, and I expect those to be resolved.

I'm happy to confirm that distribution is fair across the country. No region is advantaged or disadvantaged about how we meet the need across the country, across both health and social care, and if people do have examples of concerns where companies say they haven't had a response, I'd be grateful if Members could provide the details so that I can follow them up.

On testing on residents due to return to the care home sector from hospital, that's a matter I've covered in both the testing review and, I'm sure you'll have heard, I covered it in my statement today.

When it comes to the recording of deaths in the community, including in the care home sector, we already have, through the Office for National Statistics, a regular report on those deaths and where they take place. There is a time lag between those, because they need to review all death certificates, of between seven and 14 days from the headline figures that are released each day by Public Health Wales. So, there is pretty clear and transparent reporting of all deaths across all sectors.