Vote of no confidence tabled in health policies of the Welsh Assembly
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《英国医生杂志》
A vote of no confidence in the health polices of the Welsh Assembly has been tabled by the Welsh nationalist party, Plaid Cymru.
The move, which comes in the wake of concern about waiting lists and two critical reports, could be debated within the next few weeks.
"We must now have a change in policy to tackle the high waiting lists compared to the situation in England and Scotland, and the problems of the GP out of hours service," said Plaid Cymru抯 shadow health minister, Rhodri Glyn Thomas.
The opposition leader, Ieuan Wyn Jones, said, "Patients and health professionals deserve a change in this health policy. To achieve this we would probably need a change in minister. We will look to gain support from all the opposition parties. Labour members should also search their consciences so that we can change government policy over waiting lists and GP out of hours services."
Plaid Cymru say figures show that 92% of English patients needing a hospital appointment receive one within six months of visiting their GP, compared with 87% in Scotland and 56% in Wales.
The party has also highlighted recent critical reports, including the Wanless review, which was commissioned by the assembly itself and which concluded in July 2003 that demand for health and social care services in Wales could overwhelm the system: "The overall conclusion is that the current position is not sustainable."
It warned of repeated overspending in the NHS and said that the Welsh Assembly should stop funding deficits, adding, "Policies must be more evidence based, backed by a robust financial strategy with greater freedom for success and stronger sanctions. Changes should be supported by more sophisticated workforce planning, improved technology and investment in the estate."
A second report, from the Audit Commission in Wales, called for radical reform of services. It identified substantial problems, including more than a quarter of beds being occupied by people who need not be in them, and pointed to a continuing and pressing need for action.
At the time the report was published, in May 2004, Clive Grace, director general of the Audit Commission in Wales, said, "Recent signs of reductions in waiting list figures are clearly to be welcomed, but the current situation is a manifestation of deep seated system problems—national, local, political, managerial, and clinical. That is why we see the responsibility for solving these problems as equally wide ranging—and urgent. We want to get across how services need to change to deliver the healthcare system that Wales deserves."
A Welsh Assembly spokesman said: "The Welsh Assembly is delivering record investment in health and social care, a strong voice for patients, over 12 000 more staff, a hospital building programme, and free prescriptions by 2007. The assembly is always happy to debate its health programme and highlight its progress on delivering its commitments."(Abergavenny Roger Dobson)
The move, which comes in the wake of concern about waiting lists and two critical reports, could be debated within the next few weeks.
"We must now have a change in policy to tackle the high waiting lists compared to the situation in England and Scotland, and the problems of the GP out of hours service," said Plaid Cymru抯 shadow health minister, Rhodri Glyn Thomas.
The opposition leader, Ieuan Wyn Jones, said, "Patients and health professionals deserve a change in this health policy. To achieve this we would probably need a change in minister. We will look to gain support from all the opposition parties. Labour members should also search their consciences so that we can change government policy over waiting lists and GP out of hours services."
Plaid Cymru say figures show that 92% of English patients needing a hospital appointment receive one within six months of visiting their GP, compared with 87% in Scotland and 56% in Wales.
The party has also highlighted recent critical reports, including the Wanless review, which was commissioned by the assembly itself and which concluded in July 2003 that demand for health and social care services in Wales could overwhelm the system: "The overall conclusion is that the current position is not sustainable."
It warned of repeated overspending in the NHS and said that the Welsh Assembly should stop funding deficits, adding, "Policies must be more evidence based, backed by a robust financial strategy with greater freedom for success and stronger sanctions. Changes should be supported by more sophisticated workforce planning, improved technology and investment in the estate."
A second report, from the Audit Commission in Wales, called for radical reform of services. It identified substantial problems, including more than a quarter of beds being occupied by people who need not be in them, and pointed to a continuing and pressing need for action.
At the time the report was published, in May 2004, Clive Grace, director general of the Audit Commission in Wales, said, "Recent signs of reductions in waiting list figures are clearly to be welcomed, but the current situation is a manifestation of deep seated system problems—national, local, political, managerial, and clinical. That is why we see the responsibility for solving these problems as equally wide ranging—and urgent. We want to get across how services need to change to deliver the healthcare system that Wales deserves."
A Welsh Assembly spokesman said: "The Welsh Assembly is delivering record investment in health and social care, a strong voice for patients, over 12 000 more staff, a hospital building programme, and free prescriptions by 2007. The assembly is always happy to debate its health programme and highlight its progress on delivering its commitments."(Abergavenny Roger Dobson)