VAUGHAN GETHING

COLUMNIST

I RECENTLY welcomed the publication of the interim report of the Parliamentary review into the long-term future of health and social care in Wales.

The establishment of review was a key commitment in our Programme for Government, Taking Wales Forward.

The report described the case for change, calling for a bold vision for the health and care system based on continuous quality improvement and prevention.

I would like to thank Dr Ruth Hussey, her fellow panel members and indeed everyone that has engaged with the panel, for their commitment to this important work.

I also welcome the continuing cross-party support for the review.

The panel’s interim report recognises the tremendous commitment of the health and care workforce, and its significant achievements.

However, the case for change in how health and care services should be organised in future could not be clearer.

As the report shows, the changing makeup of the population presents a particular challenge.

Wales has the largest and fastest-growing proportion of older people in the UK.

While this is a source of celebration, an increasing older population with more complex health conditions will also lead to greater need for care.

Despite recent successes in recruitment Wales, as with many other countries, sees shortages in certain professional fields.

In common with many post-industrial societies, Wales is experiencing inequalities in health and wellbeing outcomes.

The panel has shared the view, expressed by professionals and the public alike, that health and care is not always provided effectively based on the needs of service users.

However there are positive opportunities to be seized though the faster uptake of technologies and a more systematic approach to innovation which could help deliver more effective care.

The report is clear that health and care will not be sustainable if traditional service configurations and ways of working are perpetuated.

The report makes clear that new models of delivering health and social care are needed.

To address this the panel suggest that the next steps for Wales are to identify the most promising broad models of whole system health and social care, drawing on international evidence.

The new models should be used at scale to deliver whole system transformational change.

These new models of care should include a combination of hospital, primary care, community health and social care providers.

They should work in different settings such as urban and rural and take account of Welsh language needs.

This is a strong interim report. I look to health and care organisations, and members of the public to respond with equal vigour and work constructively with the Parliamentary review over the coming months and I look forward to the final report in December.

Vaughan Gething is the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport