Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:48 pm on 30 November 2021.
First Minister, it's quite clear that you need to prioritise tackling these backlogs, and if the Welsh Government wanted to prioritise this issue we'd have seen some commitment to addressing the problems in the NHS in your coalition agreement with Plaid Cymru. Instead, you chose to prioritise more constitutional reform, more politicians, and even the creation of a broadcasting authority, despite it not being within this Government's remit. Nothing of the people's priorities—the need for urgent intervention to support our health services—and there was certainly no mention of a Wales-wide COVID-specific inquiry.
Now, you will have seen the comments of the Older People's Commissioner for Wales, who has also argued for a specific Welsh public inquiry, as she believes it would provide the best opportunity for older people to be listened to, have their experiences and views valued, and their questions answered, and I hope you listen to her, because we need to see some answers and accountability.
First Minister, last week the abuse of patients and the culture of bullying and intimidation that has occurred in the NHS in north Wales was raised with you, and there were no real answers or accountability from this Government. This week, I've asked you about what your Government is doing to tackle waiting times and stop preventable deaths from taking place. Again, no real answers or accountability, and now, the older people's commissioner has joined calls for a Wales-wide COVID inquiry. Will we now get some answers and accountability, First Minister, or will you continue to oppose a Welsh public inquiry and deny the people of Wales the answers that they deserve?