Jeremy Miles MS, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
The former Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, set up a Ministerial Advisory Group to reflect on the current governance structures in NHS Wales. Led by Ann Lloyd, chair of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. Earlier this year, the group provided advice and recommendations about actions needed to strengthen accountabilities.
Today, I am publishing the report together with our initial response to its seven overarching recommendations. The main recommendations contain some 30 sub-recommendations and suggestions for further work. Taken together, the recommendations focus on further strengthening our culture of improvement and accountability and reducing complexity. Some of these are already in train; some can and will be implemented immediately; others will need further consideration and exploration.
The Welsh Government’s focus over the coming 18 months is improving NHS performance and supporting the ongoing recovery from the pandemic. Concerted work to reduce the longest waits, supported by new funding is ongoing and I have recently appointed a new Ministerial Advisory Group on NHS Performance and Productivity, which will provide advice to me early next year.
I want to be clear that we will prioritise those recommendations which help the NHS continue in its performance journey, improve timely access to treatment and improve patient care.
The group’s report and recommendations were sent to NHS organisations and those bodies mentioned in the report, for their views and comments on the observations and recommendations made. We have now received a number of responses, which will inform how we implement the recommendations.