Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:43 pm on 10 January 2023.
I feel compelled to tell you a story that's positive. I live in a very rural area. On 17 December, I had to attend to a lady who'd fallen and had a serious head injury. We called the ambulance service. We were told it would be a two-hour wait. So, imagine our surprise when one turned up within 15 minutes. We must talk about those positive stories as well, and there are many. I do want to thank everybody who works in the health service.
I also just want to talk about a high-risk issue as well, that our UK Conservative Government are about to impose on our health workers: the shameful anti-strike legislation, which portrays our health workers as uncaring. That will do nothing to help them feel valued. Potentially, if I was them, I would leave. I would think, 'I am not being valued in my role'.
The one issue I would like to raise with you, if I may, Minister, is about the pooling of budgets within health services and social care. We've heard a lot about the social care issues that are facing our health services, and I'd just like to say to you that, in Powys, we have a coterminous local authority with the health authority. I'm just wondering if you're able to think further and give us some information around how we could be looking at those, possibly piloting some really good initiatives in Powys, for example. Thank you. Diolch yn fawr iawn.