Member of the Senedd Ken Skates has
set out the steps he believes the Welsh Government should take to improve
health services in north Wales.
The Clwyd South MS called on
Health Minister Eluned Morgan to commission independent assessments of the
short-term impact and future benefits of splitting Betsi Cadwaladr, which is
Wales’ largest health board.
He also called for the creation of
a People’s Panel in the north to scrutinise and shape what the future of the
NHS in the region and repeated his belief that the new Citizens Voice Body, which will
represent the voices and opinions of the people of Wales on health and social
care matters, should be based in the north.
Mr Skates was speaking in a Senedd
debate on Wednesday (June 8), in which the Conservatives called for BCUHB to be
put back into special measures.
He said: “There is no doubt that
health provision is the single biggest issue of concern to people in north
Wales right now, and by some distance. And, whilst the vast majority of people
in the region would doubtlessly applaud the phenomenal and tireless efforts of
the healthcare workforce, there is considerable concern over service provision
and outcomes.
“The Conservative motion sees a
different set of special measures as the answer to the health board's failings.
The Plaid amendment offers reorganisation as the answer.
“I’ve considered both really,
really carefully, and I do feel that both are worthy of further investigation
and also an open-minded response. But I can also appreciate the likely response
to both, that now is not the right time to reorganise and that we have an
established process for placing specific services and entire boards into
special measures.”
Mr Skates continued: “I'd make the
following suggestions. Firstly, conduct some form of a truth review to
completely look at the special measures process as a means of delivering
improvement. If special measures arrangements are found to be deficient in any
way, then let's move to revise them.
“Secondly, conduct a truly
independent assessment of the real and likely short-term impacts of
reorganisation on service outcomes. Let's have our eyes opened to the likely
short-term consequences before examining the long-term possible benefits of
reorganisation. Deciding on whether to embark on such a journey should be
informed by the long-term potential benefits, but also by the short-term impact
on services and outcomes.
“Thirdly, I'd recommend
establishing, without delay, a People's Panel in the north to interrogate the challenges
and all possible solutions. A People's Panel could offer, I think, an
objective, informed, depoliticised and citizen-led view of what needs to
change.
“And fourthly, let's improve
communications and transparency, establish an easily accessible online data
dashboard for the seven health board areas so that the public can see how their
services compare to other parts of Wales in terms of outcomes.
"We can't be back in again in
six or 12 months having the same debate. I'd implore the Minister to consider
all constructive suggestions, such as those that I've offered, in order to
restore public confidence in health services in north Wales."
Mr Skates also tabled a Statement
of Opinion this week – seeking support of other Members – proposing that the
Senedd:
· Calls
for the new Citizen Voice Body for Health and Social Care (CVB) to be
headquartered in North Wales.
· Believes
that locating the CVB headquarters in the North would demonstrate an early
commitment by the organisation to decentralisation.
· Further
call on the CVB to guarantee citizens that it will serve all parts of Wales
equally by having fair representation of each of the health board areas at an
executive and board level.
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