Vascular Services

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:09 pm on 1 February 2022.

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Photo of Sam Rowlands Sam Rowlands Conservative 2:09, 1 February 2022

Thanks to the Member for submitting this important question today. I also note that a fellow Member has a question on this topic tomorrow, so it's clearly a pressing issue for residents in north Wales. First Minister, as already outlined here, the vascular services have seen that significant change in north Wales. Mr ap Gwynfor has highlighted many of the issues that he's aware of, and I'm certainly aware of similar, with those changes. You mentioned, First Minister, a report by the Royal College of Surgeons; they've highlighted significant bed shortages and confusion over staffing levels, and they've outlined also a safety risk to patients in their report as well. Of course, members of the health board in north Wales have outlined progress being made to rectify this issue. But, First Minister, as you asserted, if there's nothing wrong with the model that is there at the moment, wouldn't you accept that a public inquiry would be a good step to restoring that much-needed public faith in this service? Diolch.