6. Welsh Conservatives Debate: Minister for Health and Social Services

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:03 pm on 22 March 2023.

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Photo of Gareth Davies Gareth Davies Conservative 5:03, 22 March 2023

I don’t really accept that, because health has been devolved to Wales for 25 years. You may have noticed that I’m the first-ever Conservative to represent the Vale of Clwyd, and I believe that the sole reason is because I put election leaflets and campaigned, and my number one priority on that campaign was that I’m going to hold the Welsh Government to account over some of the failures at Betsi Cadwaladr. That's what I’ve tried to do so far in my short time in this Senedd Chamber. I believe most of the things that I’ve said in this Chamber so far to the health Minister have always got good evidence behind them and they’re always projections of what constituents tell me on a daily basis. I try to project that to the best of my ability and what I’ve found in this time is that my issues that I’ve tried to bring here at times have been belittled and patronised. I get that you’re a Labour Minister and I’m a Conservative backbencher, and I know the natural political barriers in place with that, but I was elected on those pledges, and it’s my job in this Senedd to represent my constituents. I don’t believe that the health Minister has helped me at all in that process.

Yes, I’ve let my emotions boil over a couple of times in the Senedd; I fully admit that. But the only reason for that was because of the frustration and the passion that I’ve got for representing my home area. I don’t condone that sort of behaviour, but it’s purely on the basis that I don't feel that what I'm being told by constituents is being respectfully dealt with by the Minister. That was exacerbated—I think it was three or four weeks ago—when it was announced that Betsi Cadwaladr was going into special measures again. I got up and I asked a question and the health Minister just laughed at me. For whatever reason, you laughed at me and that is unacceptable. The fact that Betsi Cadwaladr has had so many issues and the Minister sees that as a laughing matter—[Interruption.]