Mark Drakeford, Minister for Health and Social Services
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
In April this year, I made a statement about unscheduled care and set out a series of immediate actions to respond to the sustained pressures felt in unscheduled care services in Wales, and the need to bring a new sense of national purpose and urgency to this important agenda.
In that statement, I announced that a new national clinical lead for unscheduled care would be appointed. I am pleased to inform Assembly Members that Dr Grant Robinson has been appointed to lead on that work.
Dr Robinson is currently Medical Director at Aneurin Bevan Health Board (ABHB). He was previously Medical Director to Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust, and also works as a Consultant in Clinical Haematology.
Whilst the impact of increased pressures are primarily felt within the NHS urgent, emergency and secondary care services, the resolution to many of them lie across the whole system. I believe that Dr Robinson has the clinical credibility and experience to provide the leadership necessary to work with colleagues across the interfaces between the NHS, Local Authority and Third Sector.
The contribution of these partners is crucially important for the development of services to ensure people receive the right care, in the right place at the right time. Through this approach I feel confident that unscheduled care pressures will be alleviated at the same time as creating strong foundations to improve the position for the future.
Dr Robinson will begin work in September this year.
This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Assembly returns I would be happy to do so.