Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:34 pm on 11 January 2022.
First Minister, there is great concern amongst residents in south-east Wales at the decision by the Aneurin Bevan health board to cut its services to the public due to staff shortages. Cuts include reducing hours at the minor injuries unit at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr, in spite of your Government encouraging patients to use these services instead of heading straight to the accident and emergency department at the Grange University Hospital. Whilst I sincerely recognise the effect of coronavirus, and particularly the omicron variant, on staffing levels, it is a fact that the NHS in Wales is seriously understaffed, as my able colleague just mentioned. It was revealed last year that there were 3,000 NHS Wales staff vacancies, with every A&E department in Wales failing to meet safe staffing levels. You did mention earlier, First Minister, that you have got plans in place, but I'd be really interested to know in a bit more depth and detail what action your Government is taking to address the serious staff shortage in the NHS and the failure to safely staff A&E departments across south-east Wales. Thank you.