3. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: NHS Winter Pressures

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:08 pm on 10 January 2023.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 3:08, 10 January 2023

(Translated)

I have a few other points that I want to question you on briefly. It's clear that the combination of COVID and flu is causing problems. There's a target of vaccinating 75 per cent of everyone offered a vaccination. Only some 41 per cent, as I understand it, of healthcare staff have been vaccinated—41 per cent of those who are most vulnerable. Does the Minister accept that the Government is failing by a distance in reaching its targets in terms of the numbers that need to be vaccinated for COVID and flu?

I have to turn to preventative measures again. The Minister again refers to work that is being done in this area: £145 million, a five-year programme in order to actually avoid people having to go to hospital. But, the way of doing that in the long term is to make us a healthier nation. Where is the investment? And whilst I, of course, appreciate that funding is tight today, where are the plans to make that major investment in order to transform our attitude towards preventative and to take pressure off our health service in that way?

And finally, Llywydd, although winter pressures is the subject of this statement today, we now know, don't we, that there are pressures throughout the year; that's the case now. We must ensure that there is scope within the health service to flex, if you like. The health service should be running at something around 85 per cent of capacity. It seems to be running at 100 per cent, 110 per cent and 120 per cent of its capacity all the time. Can the Minister tell us when the NHS in Wales was running at around 85 per cent of its capacity last? And does she accept that it's the fault of the Welsh Labour Government in terms of failing to generate that capacity within the system?