Vaughan Gething, Minister for Health & Social Services
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
On 8th October, I made you aware of a UK wide supply problem affecting the provision of diagnostic kits and reagents supplied by the pharmaceutical company Roche.
I tasked my officials to work in partnership with Roche, UK counterparts and NHS Wales colleagues to ensure that any impact on the NHS in Wales was minimised and I promised to update you as necessary.
I can now confirm that during this situation all urgent and essential services continued at all times. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Health Boards, and particularly the pathology teams across Wales, who worked around the clock and collaboratively to ensure supplies were available to maintain these essential services.
My officials have now established a robust supply chain with Roche, which has ensured that services can now operate as normal. I am also pleased to say that since my officials established direct communication channels, Roche have demonstrated commitment to NHS Wales by effective prioritisation of our orders.
Communications to clinical partners have been issued. Health Boards, where services were disrupted, have put in place mechanisms to ensure any affected patients will shortly receive the services they require.
Roche have confirmed that they will be undertaking a lessons learnt evaluation, which will be shared with us. I have also asked my officials to review processes here in Wales in light of this incident and provide recommendations to me where necessary.