6. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Increasing Allied Health Professionals in Primary and Community Care

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:06 pm on 24 January 2023.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 5:06, 24 January 2023

(Translated)

May I thank the Minister for the statement? Essentially, I welcome the intention here to invest in the workforce. The health workforce is very broad indeed, it's very diverse, and comprehensive health and care services that are sustainable do have to bring together that broad range of health professionals. It's good that we are now talking about these allied health professionals, something that wouldn't have happened years ago—it would have been doctors and nurses many years ago. But we do now appreciate that broader workforce, and it's good to see, amidst the pressure on health and care services, this investment being made. 

I'm thinking in terms of this five-point plan that we'll be discussing in the Senedd tomorrow—the plan that we as a party published today for the future of the NHS—and I do see in this announcement many elements being reflected. The first point that we make is on the need for fair wages. I wonder where the Minister considers the role of salary, because there are allied health professionals who are involved in pay disputes at the moment. I would appreciate the Minister's comments on where we set that fair salary level in that process of creating a contented workforce fit for the challenges of the future. 

I welcome the comments that we've just heard on training more workers. I would appreciate some comments too on providing further professional training for those already in the workforce. Allowing people to work at the highest point of their competence is very important, and the complaint we often hear is that people don't have the freedom to undertake the additional training necessary for continuous improvement, and to extend their skills. I would appreciate your comments on that.

The Minister will know how much emphasis I place on the importance of the preventative. I highlight the fact that the preventative can mean things a long way off in the future, but also preparing today for the challenges of tomorrow and next week, and the AHPs have a crucial role in that regard in preparing people for treatment, trying to prevent accidents, and so on. Perhaps the Minister could reflect on that preventative role. 

And finally, there's been a great deal of talk recently about that junction between health and care—delayed transfers of care have been given a great deal of coverage recently. We need to increase that capacity for bringing people out of the acute locations and hospitals. So, can I have a suggestion from the Minister as to where she sees the role of the allied health professionals in generating that capacity in order to help take people, not to put them back in their communities without a care package—there are certainly concerns about that—but to ensure that these particular workers can help people to leave hospital and move into other care locations, including their own homes, of course?