(Title Image: Oxymoron Games)

At a Glance Guide

Stage 1 report (summary)

The Health & Social Care Quality Bill will:

Abolish Community Health Councils and replace them with a Citizens’ Voice Body, whose members would be appointed by the Welsh Government.

Introduce a duty of candour (honesty/to be upfront) to the health and social care sector meaning any case where someone has been harmed by poor care has to be properly investigated and the victim properly supported.

Allow local health boards to appoint a Vice-Chair.

Stage 2 proceedings were undertaken by the Health Committee as well as the Member in Charge – Health Minister, Vaughan Gething (Lab, Cardiff S. & Penarth). In the end, there were no significant changes made other than wording.

The Key Amendments at Stage 3

Amendment 3 – Health Minister, Vaughan Gething

The Welsh Government will need to publish a Code of Practice for the Citizens’ Voice Body regarding access to premises.

Vote: Approved – 37 for, 11 against

Amendment 15 – Health Minister, Vaughan Gething

Ensures the Citizens’ Voice Body is covered by Welsh language regulations.

Vote: Agreed unanimously

Amendment 21 – Angela Burns AM (Con, Carms. W. & S. Pembs)

Places a duty on Welsh Ministers to ensure there are appropriate numbers of staff in the NHS.

Vote: Rejected – 23 for, 28 against

Reason for Rejection: It would place an “inappropriate and impractical” duty on the Welsh Government when health boards are responsible for staffing.

Amendment 72 – Rhun ap Iorwerth AM (Plaid, Ynys Môn)

Subject to regulations, would create a register of NHS managers employed by local health boards, introduces a mechanism to “strike off” managers from the register and ensures nobody can be employed as a manager without being on the register.

Vote: Rejected – 22 for, 28 against

Reason for Rejection: Adds bureaucracy and complexity.

Amendment 73 – Rhun ap Iorwerth AM

Strengthens the reporting requirement when the NHS breaches the duty of candour and places a requirement on the Welsh Government to issue a statement to the Senedd when a “serious” breach of the duty of candour has occurred.

Vote: Rejected – 22 for, 27 against

Reason for Rejection: Adds bureaucracy and complexity.

Amendment 75 – Rhun ap Iorwerth AM

Ensures the Citizens Voice Body has a regional presence as well as a national one.

Vote: Amendment Withdrawn/Automatically Rejected

Reason for Withdrawal: A government amendment ensured the Citizens’ Voice Body would “represent the interests of people in all parts of Wales”.