7. What assessment has the Minister made of the availability of healthcare within South Wales East? OQ57099

Like all parts of the NHS in Wales, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is currently under extreme pressure dealing with record numbers of COVID cases. Despite the current context, they are also continuing to provide essential and key services, and, where possible, addressing the backlog that has built up during the pandemic.

Thank you, Minister. The Welsh Government's flagship Grange hospital in Cwmbran recorded the worst A&E waits in September, seeing only 38 per cent of patients in four hours last month, when 95 per cent was the target. In the same week, reports found that staff were frightened to come to work in the brand-new Grange hospital. Yesterday, health Minister, you admitted that when your predecessor Vaughan Gething opened the hospital four months early in the face of concerns from the clinicians, that the recruitment that perhaps should have been done had not been done in time, leading to the chronic understaffing that we're now seeing. So, Minister, could you please outline the measures you'll be taking to increase the recruitment of hospital staff in the Grange; what plans your Government has to increase the community health service provision within the local community; and a timeline of when we can expect to see these changes? Thank you.

Thanks very much. Well, I was given an initial report of the Royal College of Physicians much earlier during the summer. I was very concerned about the situation. I think, to say, in Aneurin Bevan's defence, the visits happened soon after the Grange was opened, when the organisation was still coming to grips with those new environments. I'm pleased to say that the health board has put an immediate plan into action, so the recruitment that we were very keen to see has already started. There is going to be a review of medical staffing. Their board is going to focus on staff well-being and engagement, and clearly there is a need to improve patient flow at the Grange in order to address those accident and emergency issues that you're seeing at the front door. So, I am confident that measures are being put in place. Some of it can be switched on quicker than others, but I am pleased to see that the health board is taking this very seriously.

Finally, question 8, Joyce Watson.