9. What discussions has the Minister had with local health officials and county councillors regarding COVID-19 case rates in west Wales? OQ55982

My officials receive regular situation reports from the local incident management teams and are in regular contact with health protection professionals supporting this region. I and fellow Ministers receive regular updates through these channels. Ministers are engaged, where necessary, in local decisions. I, of course, also meet with, on a regular basis, people from across the health service, and I also have the opportunity to join the local government Minister in some of her regular conversations with local government leaders.

I thank you for that answer. There have been a number of incidents recently that illustrate just how precarious this situation is, how quickly local health services can be overtaken by events, and why firm action to control the virus is vital. More than a dozen schools, nurseries and a college campus had to close in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion after localised spikes, and a number of patients have tested positive for COVID-19 at Llandovery and Amman valley hospitals. On that situation, I understand that quite a few staff at both sites have also tested positive and are self-isolating, which has led to significant constraints on that workforce. Can you provide an update on that, please, and help to reassure my constituents that the two sites are continuing to provide safe care to their patients?

Yes. To be fair, the Member has raised this with me before, and I thank her for the opportunity to put something on the record today. Hywel Dda University Health Board has announced it will transfer patients who are currently being treated in Llandovery Community Hospital to the Amman Valley Hospital. They've approved the temporary measure after considering a number of options and working with stakeholders, local general practitioners, the community health council and elected officials. After that, there will be no in-patients in Llandovery. That will allow them to not just deep clean the site but also to then reopen it as a green site as well. So, they're actively considering how the hospitals can provide the best positive care for people with COVID-19 and those people who do not have COVID-19. I expect that the Member, in her capacity as a regional Member, will receive a direct update with more detail on those plans direct from the health board. If that doesn't happen, please do return to me and I'll make sure it will. 

Thank you, Minister, for those answers.