Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services
I have today launched a consultation to support the implementation of the Citizen Voice Body for Health and Social Care from 1 April 2023. The consultation covers the Code of Practice on Access required by section 19 of the Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Act 2020, Statutory Guidance on Representations required by section 15 of that Act, and an update to related Service Change Guidance in the NHS.
My ambition is for Wales to be a place where the voice of the citizen plays a determining part in the future development of health and social care. To achieve this, it is of paramount importance for the Citizen Voice Body to have access to those who might wish to share views, and also for there to be mechanisms that give assurance that proper weight and regard is given to the representations which result - including in relation to health care service changes. To support this and also to clearly set out the relevant expectations, the Welsh Government has developed drafts of the Code of Practice on Access to premises, statutory guidance on representations, and revised guidance on service change in the NHS.
All these functions are connected, and I hope that by sharing them together in this way, it will help stakeholders to see the inter-connections between them and comment on the proposals we are bringing forward.
The consultation period ends on 06 March 2023. The link to the consultation can be found here.