Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:07 pm on 28 September 2021.
Thank you, First Minister, for your response to Siân Gwenllian there. I certainly sympathise with the comments made via Siân Gwenllian with the words from care home owners and care home workers. It's difficult, I think, for many of us to understand that significant difference in protection for roles and tasks that seem quite similar, between a health worker and a care support worker, but clearly you've answered the question to you in regard to that.
On a slightly wider point, in regard to PPE and its supply, you mentioned there the free supply into care homes, which of course is welcome. But of course throughout the pandemic it's been the role of local authorities and county councils to ensure the supply does end up at the doorstep of care homes and domiciliary care workers as well, and I'm sure you'll agree they've done an amazing job through that time in terms of logistics and getting that equipment to the places that need it. In light of that, what plans do you have to ensure that this supply is able to continue and that there aren't any surprises, especially over the winter months, in demand for this supply, so that social care workers are properly protected? Thanks.