Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:51 pm on 11 October 2022.

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Photo of Andrew RT Davies Andrew RT Davies Conservative 1:51, 11 October 2022

I accept the point that you've made, First Minister, but last week, you did try and make the point that they had 'moved on', when in fact your opening remarks directing us to their press release last week clearly show that they do want a Wales-wide independent inquiry. But the record will speak and people will make their judgment accordingly. 

I'd like to raise with you, First Minister, my constituent's e-mail to me last night. Ross highlighted the experience that his grandmother had in the accident and emergency department in the Heath hospital, Cardiff. I appreciate that you cannot respond on individual cases, but this was a particularly poignant e-mail that came, and I'm sure that many Members in this Chamber get these e-mails. His 86-year-old grandmother went to the A&E department, not transported by an ambulance, but by a taxi, with a suspected stroke, because she was told that it would take several hours, if not a day, to get an ambulance to her. When she arrived at the hospital, she waited 20 hours to see a doctor—20 hours. Her assessment now is that she will never go back to a hospital, and all she wishes for is that she has a painless death. 

Now, in June, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales undertook an unannounced inspection of the A&E department at the Heath hospital. I hope, as a constituency Member here in Cardiff, you are familiar with the outcomes of their recommendations and the situation they found. Last week, you said to me that I highlighted the impotency of opposition. Could you show me the potency of your Government in addressing the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales report on the A&E department, and in particular, address the concerns that Ross's grandmother has, that she will never go to an A&E department again and wishes for a painless death?