Public Affairs Update - April/May 2024

News

New Minister for Social Partnership

Although only just one month in, we have already seen changes in the new Cabinet. The First Minister, Vaughan Gething has replaced Hannah Blythyn, Minister for Social Partnership, with Sarah Murphy, MS for Bridgend. BBC News

New bill banning profit on children's social care

On 20 May, the Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill was laid in the Senedd by Dawn Bowden, the new Minister for Social Change. This Bill aims to ensure that in the future only not-for-profit entities or local authorities can provide certain types of children's social care. 

Support for victims/survivors of conversion therapy

The Welsh Government has provided the first in-person support service for victims and survivors of conversion practices. The Welsh Government is partnering with Galop to deliver the new service which will also offer crucial information and resources for organisations looking to support LGBTQ+ people.

Ministerial priorities for mental health

Jayne Bryant, the new Minister for Mental Health and Early Years outlined her priorities in post in plenary. During mental health awareness week, she focused on the importance of exercise and movement, and preventing poor mental health. She received several questions from opposition MS's around how she plans to tackle the long waiting times for CAMHS, the social inequalities that lead to poor mental health, poor quality Care and Treatment Plans, a lack of basic data, and so on. The Minister referred to the new draft mental health strategy and urged the public to respond. 

BPS supports call to improve children's health

The BPS joins other organisations in an open letter to the first minister asking him how the Welsh government will improve health outcomes for babies, children and young people, and ensure there are sufficient numbers of staff with the right expertise to meet ongoing and future challenges to care for them. 

Radical changes to the Senedd approved

The Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill increases the size of the Senedd from 60 to 96, changes the voting system so that all Members are elected via closed list proportional representation, and moves from a five to a four-yearly election cycle. It is currently in post stage 4, awaiting Royal Assent. 

New chair of CYPE Committee

Buffy Williams, MS for Rhondda takes over from Jayne Bryant as chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee after Jayne was appointed Minister for Mental Health and Early Years. 

New Senedd inquiry into obesity

The Health and Social Care Committee launched an inquiry into obesity, including the impact of obesity on mental health. It's also asking stakeholders for evidence on gaps and areas for improvement in policy and the current regulatory framework, the impact of social and commercial determinants on obesity, and people's ability to access services and receive support and treatment. 

New AHP Workforce Development Plan

HEIW will publish the AHP Workforce Development Plan at the end of May. It aims to address current and future workforce challenges. Emerging themes have been mapped to the seven themes of the Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care Wales. Actions cover areas including; allied health professionals identity, attraction and recruitment, practice placements, seamless workforce models, support workers, digital skills, education and learning, leadership and succession, and workforce supply and shape.

Current Consultations

Welsh Government: Mental Health and Suicide/Self-Harm Prevention Strategies 

Deadline 11 June

The Welsh government is seeking views on a new mental health strategy for Wales and a revised draft Suicide and self-harm prevention strategy. These replace Together for Mental Health and Talk to Me Too. Both strategies focus on empowering individuals, cross-government working, and improving datasets and data collection to inform policies and improve services.