Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:37 pm on 10 January 2023.
Thank you, Minister, for your statement. Every year, we have winter, every year, we have winter pressures, and we've not learned any lessons. The announcement made last week, which stated that patients could be discharged without the need for a care package, raises serious ethical, equalities and human rights concerns. Doctors have rightly condemned this policy as dangerous. What rights impact assessments were made prior to this new policy change? Minister, the Equality and Human Rights Commission made a string of recommendations in its 'Equality and human rights in residential care in Wales during coronavirus' report. Why have you ignored those recommendations and put the lives of older people and disabled people at risk?
Finally, Minister, what steps will you take to ensure that this and any future policy decisions regarding social care are fully assessed in terms of their impact upon the human rights of Welsh patients, and measures put in place to prevent any breaches? Thank you.