9. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Cancer Services Improvement Plan

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:23 pm on 31 January 2023.

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Photo of Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Labour 6:23, 31 January 2023

(Translated)

Thank you very much. I think a lot of people, unfortunately, find out that they have cancer as they go to emergency departments—the symptoms don’t show up until the last minute, and obviously that’s very difficult for them, and part of what we’re talking about in this plan is ensuring that there are acute oncology services available in our emergency departments.

This is an NHS plan, as I said, and it responds to the quality system that we have. In terms of accountability, the health boards are accountable to me, of course, through the chairs, but the NHS executive will have a specific role in ensuring that this is delivered, so I do hope—. And of course, through the integrated medium-term plans process, as you know, cancer is one of the six priorities that I have. So, monitoring those and making sure that they get the attention that they need will mean that it is one of the priorities.

In terms of the workforce, it is difficult, isn’t it? Because there’s so much going on, so much on our plate at the moment. If I hadn’t published the HEIW report, you would have complained about that, so I preferred to do what I said I was going to do. I can’t fit more things into the agenda—we only have one day this week. I’ve been on my feet already twice today, so it’s just a lack of space on the agenda—that’s the problem. We have done it. I did promise that we’d have it by the end of the month, and we’ve delivered.  

In terms of co-location, the decision on Velindre has been made. We've heard all sides of that debate, and there are questions in terms of timing and the best location, and so forth. The decision has been made, we won't be changing that decision, and the work will start before long. But I was very pleased to see the £86 million that we announced on Friday for new radiotherapy equipment. That's 10 new machines, and two of them are going to go to Abergavenny, which will mean that people won't have to travel quite so far on that side of Wales. So, I'm very pleased that we are going to push forward and that we do have the right equipment in place.