8. The Nurse Staffing Levels (Extension of Situations) (Wales) Regulations 2021

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:56 pm on 23 February 2021.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 5:56, 23 February 2021

(Translated)

Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. We will be supporting these regulations; indeed, we have supported the extension of the Act for some time. One question, if I may: given the events of the past 12 months and the uncertainty that there is in terms of how many committed but very tired staff could choose to leave the profession because of the stresses that they have been through, how confident is the Minister in the steps that this Government has put in place to allow the recruitment and retention of nurses in order to deliver against these regulations? And would the Minister accept that we need significant investment now in education and training for nurses to ensure that there are sufficient numbers of nurses and other health professionals coming into the NHS in the very challenging period that we face?