3. Will the Minister make a statement on the provision of domiciliary care in the Bridgend area? OQ56727

I am pleased the council is moving toward commissioning services that have person-centred care as the focus. I am also pleased to note the consideration of staff remuneration, in line with my recent oral statement setting out our Welsh Government's commitment to the introduction of the real living wage.

Well, I really welcome that response to my question, because I draw the Minister's attention to the letter that was sent by Bridgend on 16 June, where they put forward, I thought, an interesting offer in their recommissioning of domiciliary care, which will take place this year, not only to pilot a move towards the real living wage—it's a timely moment to do it—but also to introduce more flexibility into the way they provide domiciliary care, based on the approach of what matters to you as the end user, much more flexible, based around not just the care needs but the social needs of that individual as well. And we've seen this work well in other areas I visited when I was doing the role that you're now doing in Cardiff and the Vale, and seeing how that worked so well not only for the user, but also for staff themselves to feel empowered and to use their skills and experience properly. So, I wonder if you've had time to consider that, and also the invitation in that letter that they made to come and visit the integrated care teams that they're running with Cwm Taf that have been the subject of excellent reports and feedback from Care Inspectorate Wales.

I'd like to thank Huw Irranca-Davies very much for that question. I am aware and have received the letter from Bridgend, and I was very interested to read about their proposed pilot to pay domiciliary care workers at the level of the real living wage and also to introduce more flexibility into the provision. I think he's described how flexibility can be of great advantage to users of the service.

He knows that we have set up the fair work social care forum and I'll be asking them to consider which part or parts of the sector should be our starting point for rolling out the commitment, because we are very keen to do this in a co-productive way, working with the trade unions and employers and, of course, working with local government. I mean, of course, our overall aim is that all eligible social care workers will be receiving the real living wage within the term of this Government. But in terms of where we start, I will be discussing that with the forum and I'm very grateful indeed to Bridgend for putting forward their proposal.

Thank you to Huw Irranca-Davies for tabling this question. I think it's very important, and as Huw correctly says, domiciliary care workers in Bridgend and social care workers across Wales have played a really important part in this pandemic.

But I think domiciliary care doesn't just start and end with those social care workers. One aspect of domiciliary care—and it's sometimes overlooked, actually—is the role of community pharmacies and their provision of medicines and other services for those who are either shielding or can't leave their homes. I recently visited Porthcawl pharmacy, which provides services to those shielding or can't leave their homes to deliver medication or other services across the local area into the wider community. Very often, the people who are receiving domiciliary care are most likely to receive services like this, but despite the good work being done by Porthcawl pharmacy on this issue, the provision is quite patchy across Wales, which means that many vulnerable people in other areas are left out of accessing these vital services. So, can I ask what assessment you have made of the role of community pharmacies in the provision of certain services for those receiving domiciliary care and what action the Welsh Government is taking to improve these services to standardise them across Wales?

I thank you very much for that question. Obviously, community pharmacy is absolutely crucial in terms of delivering services and delivering services to those who are in receipt of domiciliary care as well.

I think community pharmacies have got a very good record in terms of providing services, and I'm personally aware of many individuals and families who have depended on community pharmacies in delivering the medication and in being a link to other services. So, we're certainly very well aware and very supportive of the role of community pharmacies, and we'll be looking to do all we can to increase their role, because I think it's absolutely key that we do reach all those people who need this additional help in having the services. We see community pharmacies as absolutely crucial.