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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:24 pm on 29 April 2020.

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Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour 3:24, 29 April 2020

Minister, we have some absolute heroics going on in the care sector at the moment—managers of care homes and front-line staff in domiciliary and residential care are going way beyond the call of duty. They're not just caring for our loved ones who are locked down and in isolation, but they're trying to adhere to physical distancing when working with residents with dementia and those who will wander. They're dealing with more frequent incidents of bereavement, and some care homes have been especially impacted, and all of this is being exacerbated by the difficulty of families and friends being isolated from the residents in life and in death. Our care workers are genuinely heroes. They always have been, of course, but it's now evident for all those who've not seen this before. So, Minister, what will the future look like for these heroes? When the public health battle against COVID-19 is won, will they be truly better valued in society? And crucially, Minister, will they be truly better paid and have better terms and conditions and a professional career path?

And on a related note, Minister, what does a far more integrated health and social care effort look like in Wales in future times of comparative calm and peace, having learned the lessons of how essential integrated working is in the heat of the battle against a pandemic?