Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:36 pm on 8 June 2022.
Actually, Rhun, it's very close, but I think, first of all, what we need to do is look at the short-term impact of reorganisation. We've got a huge backlog at the moment that Betsi Cadwaladr are facing, we would need to understand before we review and appraise the potential benefits, long term, of reorganisation—. I think we do need to be informed as to what the short-term impact could be in terms of service provision, waiting times and outcomes. So, they are two different reviews, I'm afraid, and I believe that the first review should be to assess what the short-term impact would be in terms of outcomes in service provision. If it were to be found that those short-term impacts are very minor indeed, then I'd suggest moving on then with the second review, the review that you propose in your amendment today. I hope that clarifies my position and my recommendations.
I know that Ministers are always being advised that now is not the right time to reorganise any organisation, regardless of the time and events of the moment, and Ministers are often overwhelmed by the voice of the organisation facing reorganisation. But how much of the patient's voice actually gets through? I do think that a people's panel, reporting directly to Ministers, could ensure that future solutions, no matter what they may be, have the backing of the people that we serve.
Speaking of the citizen's voice, I've today tabled a statement of opinion that I'd invite all Members to support. It's a statement calling for the citizen voice body for health and social care to be headquartereded in north Wales. In my view, it's essential that that body is based in the north, where we have the largest population under a single health board and, arguably, the greatest challenge faced by any of our seven health boards.
Finally, may I ask that health matters in north Wales continue to be a core consideration of the Cabinet sub-committee for north Wales, chaired by my friend and colleague Lesley Griffiths, and that, through that Cabinet sub-committee, the views of key stakeholders, such as our six local authority leaders, are fully considered? Diolch.