Social Care News

First Minister to visit frontline public services

Below is a press announcement from the Welsh Assembly:

In his opening address to leaders of public services across Wales at the second Public Services Summit today, the First Minister said:

“The emerging figures from the Budget and messages about the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review are stark and potentially could be devastating in their impact, particularly on the most vulnerable.

“We all recognise that we will not deliver for our communities by working in the same old ways but just doing a bit less by salami-slicing our budgets.  We have to take a radical look at how we work, redesigning the front line services and streamlining corporate functions.

“The best place for us as leaders to learn what can be done with least damage is from those who provide our services and those who use them.  I will be on the road through the summer, in all parts of Wales, meeting staff and users of services.  I want to explain our approach and seek their expertise in protecting services and outcomes.  I will use the authority I have to ensure that this expertise is translated into action.”

The First Minister began his series of events yesterday with a visit to the Gwent Frailty project in Torfaen which works with dependent or vulnerable people with chronic conditions to help them retain their independence.

Convened by the First Minister, the public services summits build on the Team Wales approach adopted by the economic summits which helped Wales through the economic recession.  The summits are held every four to six months and bring together by local authorities, trades unions, NHS boards, police representatives, Assembly Government Sponsored Bodies, other government departments and the third sector.  

Today’s summit was addressed by the First Minister, Health and Social Services Minister Edwina Hart, Budget and Business Minister Jane Hutt and Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant.

The theme for this summit was integrated health and social care and the Health Minister Edwina Hart said that one of her main priorities is  the creation of intregrated services and strong partnerships. She said this could only be achieved if NHS Wales and Local Government in Wales work together to share the challenges and solutions......END

click here to download copy of speech by Edwina Hart