Waiting times

THE latest waiting times for hospital treatment in Gwent are shocking. More than 4,250 patients – mainly in orthopaedic or ophthalmology – have been waiting more than 36 weeks.

The Labour Welsh Government’s target is that no one should wait longer than 36 weeks, so they have failed miserably which is symptomatic of their dismal running of the Welsh NHS.

Delays often mean that patients have to endure considerable pain waiting for their operations.

The local health board also announced last week that it was reducing the overall number of adult mental health beds in its hospitals due to difficulties in recruiting staff.

Plaid Cymru wants to fully integrated health and social care services which will reduce bureaucratic delays, drive down waiting times, and improve access to care.

Equality

AS Plaid Cymru’s Equality Spokesperson, I spoke in the recent Senedd debate on the Welsh Government’s annual equality report.

Many children are the victims of social inequality. We know that youngsters from poorer backgrounds are less likely than fellow pupils to achieve high grades in their exams and, as a result, more likely to end up without further education, training or a job.

A recent report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Wales pointed out that pupils with special educational needs, those who are disabled or from an ethnic minority are also much more likely to experience bullying than other pupils.

What is really worrying was a report from Estyn that schools’ awareness and understanding of bullying and schools’ responsibility to LGBT pupils, and their ability to deal with this, was found to be wanting.

There was no specific mention of children in the Welsh Government’s equality objectives but we need to make it clear that their particular rights must be safeguarded. No child should be the victim or the perpetrator of bullying or hate crime.

And apart from parental responsibility, it should also be made clear that we expect schools at primary and secondary level to play a key role in helping children to grow up and enjoy equal rights and equal opportunities, whatever their background.

St David’s Hospice

IT was a pleasure to attend the official turf cutting ceremony marking the start of work on the in-patient hospice in Newport.

The £5m 15-bed specialist unit will be built next to the main St David’s Hospice in Blackett Avenue.

The hospice covers a population of more than 600,000 and the new service will ensure people have the best possible palliative and end of life care, irrespective of their diagnosis.