4. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: The Health and Social Care Winter Protection Plan 2021-22

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:58 pm on 19 October 2021.

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Photo of Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Labour 3:58, 19 October 2021

Thanks very much, Vikki, and you're absolutely right that it's really important that we alleviate the pressure on the places that people traditionally go for support, and that's why we have a very active campaign, 'Help Us Help You', which is ongoing at the moment, and of course, that will be able to help people and point people in the direction of community pharmacies and other places where they can go for support. Also of course, we'll be encouraging people to use the 111 telephone and online advice that is available to them, and that also manages to take pressure off people.

I am obviously keeping an eye on the situation in Cwm Cynon in relation to the health centre there. One of the reasons, of course, you'll be aware, is because there's a shortage of staff; COVID is affecting everybody, and it's affecting our public services. And so in order to make sure that they're sustainable, and we can give a sustainable service, in the longer term, we have to consolidate so that staff can work together at times. I have been given an assurance that the situation there will be changed in the new year, but I think it's really important that we scotch the rumours that I understand have been going around the community that it will be permanently closed. I can assure you that is not the case and it is important that people understand that this is simply part of what we're going to have to do to get through this winter together.

And in terms of the delayed transfer of care, I'm spending a huge amount of time with my colleague Julie Morgan on the issue of care at the moment. We're having weekly meetings with, I'm pleased to say, Andrew Morgan, who is the leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf council, taking a huge interest, and really trying to underline the fact that, actually, we can't solve the problem in terms of our hospitals until we address the problems in our care services. So, getting people around the table together from our local authorities and our health boards on a weekly basis to come up with any innovative ideas for how we can get through this winter has been an important exercise, and we're still taking weekly actions on that. As I say, there'll be more information on that when we publish the report properly on Thursday.