We need to take steps to help care system

I SUSPECT we will agree that our health and social care system is broken, and also that our public need and deserve better. Please stop haranguing the hospital services who, throughout the year, are trying to cope with ever increasing demand.

Staff come to work wanting to do a good job and they are magnificent. We need to:

■ Pay more for our health and social care, bringing us into line with the rest of Europe;

■ recognise that beautiful Wales is a magnet for retirees, skewing the demographics and presenting with complex needs. Admissions are generally appropriate with sick patients staying longer.

■ work as a system, it’s no good for patients being stuck in expensive hospital beds waiting for discharge to home or care homes; and

■ invest in prevention and public health. It’s scandalous that on average only 60% of staff received flu jabs this winter.

There is no magic bullet. The public need sustained, targeted investment in Primary Care, hospitals and Social care, always difficult against the short-term political agenda.

Unless we show that services are valued, how will we recruit and retain staff in increasing numbers when they see some of our services as third world.

So come on, get behind these services so badly needed and join the campaign for funding and transformation. Let us see a NHS and social care system in Wales that the public need and deserve.

David Edwards Former CEO Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust