6. Welsh Conservatives Debate: Mental health services

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:24 pm on 8 December 2021.

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Photo of Hefin David Hefin David Labour 4:24, 8 December 2021

I wanted to speak in this debate as a Member from south Wales who doesn't have a detailed knowledge of the workings of the Betsi Cadwaladr health board, but has had constituents contacting me with mental health problems in my constituency who are looking for support from the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and associated health boards in my community. So, I take at face value some of the reassurances that we've had from the health Minister, and I'd like to hear more from the Deputy Minister today about how the Holden report has been responded to, and those issues that will be noted by the Welsh Government as a series of improvements that are being made as a result. So, I think that's important to have my support for the Welsh Government's amendment—for the Minister to make that clear in her response. But the clear point of part 3(d) onwards of the motion identifies things that can be done across Wales. Now, I can't see directly where—. It's quite a great leap from the Holden report to the whole of Wales, is the point I'm trying to make here, and I can't see where that leap can be made. So, I would say that from point (d) onwards, to undertake a fundamental review of mental health services, publish meaningful information on the performance and quality of health services across Wales, establish the walk-in centres, and deliver a new mental health Act, I think that is a deeper piece of work that needs to be undertaken by a committee investigation rather than simply be voted through in this Chamber today, because it seems to be quite an extrapolation from the Holden report itself.