5. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Approach to Respiratory Viruses

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:13 pm on 11 October 2022.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 4:13, 11 October 2022

(Translated)

Thank you to the Minister for the statement this afternoon. I agree, generally speaking, with the plan as outlined by the Minister today. The Minister is right in saying, of course, that COVID has not left us; it is still casting a shadow, and that shadow is getting darker. And there's a concern too that flu could take hold this winter in a way that it hasn't done for a number of years. I am grateful to Dr Harri Pritchard and the team at the Amlwch Health Centre for giving me my flu jab, and I, like everyone else here, would encourage those who quality for that vaccination—those over 50 and those who were carers in one way or another during the pandemic—to go and get that vaccination and to contact a GP or pharmacist. 

I just wanted to ask one simple question on the impact that an increase in respiratory conditions through COVID, flu and other viruses, and the impact that that could have on the health service. I am truly concerned that the Minister is still telling us that she is confident of reaching Government targets in terms of waiting lists, that she's confident that, by the end of this year we will have reached the point where nobody will wait longer than 12 months for a first out-patient appointment. We are nowhere near being on track to reach that target, and if we see additional pressures because of respiratory conditions, then the pressures will be even greater, making it even more difficult to reach that target. So, when will the Minister carry out an assessment to see what impact respiratory conditions will have on the Government's ability to reach those targets? Because what I need to know is that the Government is willing to reassess at an early stage, to change direction at an early stage, or the whole backbone of the Government's plans in bringing down waiting lists and waiting times will suffer.