Plaid Cymru believes that social care, like healthcare, should be provided free at the point of use to all those who need it. A Plaid Cymru government will make progress on realising this vision.
The existing division between healthcare – which is provided by NHS Wales – and social care – which is principally the responsibility of local authorities – is artificial, inefficient and unsustainable. It is delaying transfers of care – preventing people from leaving hospital, blocking beds and making waiting lists longer.
To take the next steps towards creating a fully integrated Health and Care Service for Wales, we will:
- Require stronger collaboration between health and social care services, with more joined-up planning, better coordination of resources, and clearer shared responsibility for delivery.
- Instruct the new National Office for Care and Support to develop and implement standardised national guidelines on social care – on the commissioning of services, data collection, and needs assessments.
- Work with local authorities and care providers to ensure that the Real Living Wage is the minimum wage rate for social care in Wales.
- Support and expand social enterprise and co-operative social care models.
Palliative and end of life care are a critical part of our health and care system, and we will work to address the key challenges facing these services, including through:
- Working with health boards, care providers and other relevant stakeholders to develop a new, sustainable funding model.
- Requiring health boards to assess palliative and end of life care needs within their catchments and use this to inform planning and delivery of services – publishing local delivery plans for palliative care.
- Ensuring that every Regional Partnership Board (RPB) includes a palliative and end of life care lead.