“Health and social care services have to change”, says expert panel

To turn this ambition into practical reality, it calls for new models of care to be trialled across Wales.

Frontline staff, the public, and other public and voluntary organisations will be asked to work together to develop new models of care, to help hospital, primary care, community health and social care providers to work more effectively together. The models will be developed to work in different settings such as urban and rural, and take account of Welsh language needs.

The Parliamentary Review interim report, published today, recognises that new models will need to be underpinned by action in a number of areas and  makes further recommendations including the need for:

• a step change in the way the health and social care systems adapts to the changing needs of the population
• the people of Wales, staff, service users and carers to have greater influence on new models of care with clearer, shared roles and responsibilities
• new skills and career paths for the health and social care workforce with a focus on continuous improvement
• better use of technology and infrastructure to support quality and efficiency
• streamlined governance, finance and accountability arrangements aligned for health and social care.

The review panel has been asked to produce a report by the end of 2017. The final report will consider ways of meeting rising need for health and social care as well as public expectations about the services. The review panel has been actively engaging with the public and health and care professionals to seek their honest and frank opinions on the future of health and social care in Wales.

Dr Ruth Hussey said:  

“In our independent interim report we have focused on the challenges to, and the opportunities for, improvement in the current services. The report defines the key issues facing health and social care services as we see them and outlines our initial proposals for a way forward.  

“By the time our final report is published at the end of the year, we aim to have a list of recommendations that command widespread support, are implementable, and give Wales the best chance of delivering the changes needed to achieve  quality driven, sustainable, whole health and social care system and services that the population rightfully expects.”

“We want to hear from as many people as possible to inform the next part of our work, especially on the case for change, new models, and the areas we have identified for action.”

Health Secretary Vaughan Gething said: 

“I’d like to thank Dr Hussey, her team and everyone who has contributed to this report so far. I also welcome the cross-party support for the review.

“The establishment of the Parliamentary Review into the Long-Term Future of Health and Social Care in Wales was a key commitment in Taking Wales Forward.

“This is an insightful interim report. The panel rightly 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.  

“I look forward to responding formally to Assembly Members in the chamber later today.”