Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:17 pm on 1 February 2022.
So, what will be different this time in order to ensure that the outcomes for patients are better? Because we can agree all day long on principles, but, unless those principles become tangibles that make a difference to patients, then there's not much purpose to them.
To turn to this question as to whether this is a continuation of something that's gone before or something new, the Minister said that it is new, but what about those things that have worked well under the current funds? How do we ensure that those can become part of this new integrated regional fund? Concerns have been raised, over the last weeks and months since this plan was first mooted, by the third sector and other groups who have posts partially funded by past funds. What happens to those? What assurance can you give that those things that have been making a difference and working well can continue for the future?
One final question from me. There is a risk under the projects that were funded under the funds to date that they encourage collaboration rather than real integration. And where collaboration works well, well, all well and good, but it's not integration. Calling this integration in and of itself won't secure integration. So, where does the Minister think that this fits in to the broader agenda that I am very eager to see progress very swiftly to truly integrate health and care services? Because surely that's what we're seeking, ultimately. I need to know how we will measure, under the plan outlined today, whether that integration is truly happening, or is it a step towards another project of real integration.