Plaid secures progress in creating National Care Service for Wales

"Plaid Cymru has secured an important milestone" - Rhun ap Iorwerth

As part of Plaid Cymru’s Co-operation Agreement with the Welsh Government, an Expert Group is being established to progress the work of creating a National Care Service for Wales.

The Expert Group membership will include individuals with varied backgrounds including individuals with experience of running social care services and local government, academics, and those most knowledgeable about the relationship between the NHS and Social Care.

Plaid Cymru Health spokesperson, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, described the development as “an important milestone” in taking Wales closer to having a National Care Service that will be “essential” in addressing the current provision gaps.

The Expert Group will aim to provide recommendations by the end of April 2022 with the development of an implementation plan being completed by the end of 2023.

Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said:

“Creating a National Care Service for Wales to bring health and social care closer together and address the current provision gaps is a longstanding Plaid Cymru commitment.

“In guaranteeing progress on this issue as part of the Co-operation Agreement with Welsh Government, Plaid Cymru has secured an important milestone in taking Wales a step closer to having a truly National Care Service.

“Those involved in the Expert Group will bring valuable insights and experience, ensuring that the National Care Service is tailored to meet the needs of some of our most vulnerable citizens from the outset.

“It is also vitally important that the Expert Group engages fully with those at the front line of delivering care and ensures that the recommendations reflect their views.

“I’m determined that we deliver health and care in a joined-up way that puts the need of the patient or service user at its heart, but also that we deliver a service that attracts, supports and properly rewards staff.

“The recommendations set to be provided by the end of April this year will hopefully give us firm foundations on which to build a new and much-needed institution which has been advocated by health and care leaders for many years.”