6. Welsh Conservatives Debate: NHS waiting lists

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:33 pm on 11 May 2022.

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Photo of James Evans James Evans Conservative 4:33, 11 May 2022

What we want to see is timescales. We're not seeing adequate timescales for delivery on these things. We're seeing the surgical hubs some of us don't have; we're not seeing when surgical hubs are going to be delivered right the way across Wales. There's no time frame for that—it's in the plan. We're not seeing where all this money is actually going to be invested. We want to see that so that we can scrutinise it properly. 

Because we do welcome surgical hubs, Minister. That's something that you and I, and Russell George and my party, have been calling for for many years, because we want to see the number of people going into the NHS increasing. But when those people go in, we need to ensure there is adequate staff there to make sure that people are getting seen. I've said to you, and I'll say it again: I do think we need to have a radical look at how we get people into the NHS, whether that's through degree apprenticeships or having a radical overhaul of how people become nurses or doctors.

A lot of people have mentioned in this Chamber—[Interruption.] I'll make a bit of progress, Carolyn, and I will come back to you. Prevention is better than cure. Many people have said that. And I do respect the Deputy Minister's position here of trying to address that, but we need to push this faster, quicker, to make sure it's delivered. We don't want to see people who are suffering with obesity on waiting lists, because that puts pressure on the NHS in terms of delays in discharge. Public health needs to be prioritised and that means closer integration with our local authorities. 

I do want to talk about discharge. Social care and the health sector working together isn't working at the moment. We have seen too many people sat in hospitals bed blocking, and the link between the health boards and our councils needs to be more integrated. I know, Minister, you will say that we now have the regional partnership boards in place to help deliver that, but with 1,000 people still waiting in beds, as Russell George has said, I'm not sure if that integration is working. And something I'd like to push you on is to make sure the regional partnership boards are delivering that.

Minister, I don't want you to see this motion as an attack. I think emotions got very high earlier around this. Russell George, my colleague, put in some very good points on how we would like to see things improve across Wales, and that's what I want us to do here. The NHS isn't Labour's, it's not the Conservatives', it's not Plaid's, it's not the Liberal Democrats', it's the public's NHS. They pay their taxes, they expect a decent service, and that's why we as Welsh Conservatives will hold the Government to account on this. That is what we are here for, and that is why I urge all Members to support this motion in front of them today.