WIREDGOV

Members of the Policy Forum have written an open letter to the First Minister, outlining ten key calls for health and wellbeing

Dear First Minister,

We are writing to you as members of the Welsh NHS Confederation’s Challenge 2016 Policy Forum – a group of more than 30 health, social care and wellbeing organisations which have come together to look at areas of joint-working and priority in the run-up to the National Assembly Election and beyond.

As you are aware the next few years is a critical time for health and care services, with pressures on all systems across the United Kingdom at unprecedented levels. 

The importance of delivering services that will meet the needs of the population and improve people’s wellbeing were well recognised in the debates leading up to the election and featured heavily in manifesto commitments.

Ahead of the election the Policy Forum produced a document outlining ten calls to action that we believe will help to improve health, social care and wellbeing in Wales. 

These steps have been endorsed by organisations across the group as being the key areas which will need to be addressed by the Welsh Government if we are to deliver high quality care that meets the individual needs of patients.

One of the calls is for the new Welsh Government to outline a long-term vision for health, social care and wellbeing, from birth through to death, and provide the leadership to make this a reality. 

We would also like to see a commitment to ensuring these services are properly resourced, including the required level of planning and investment in the future workforce to ensure that the needs of patients are met.

Ensuring person centred care and giving people a seamless experience of services wherever they are will require further integration. This is not just across health and social care, but across all public sectors, and must be a priority for the new Welsh Government.

Meanwhile, providing the right support and creating an environment for people to live, where possible, active lives and make healthy lifestyle choices, will be significant in improving health and wellbeing and reducing demand on services. Therefore it is imperative that the public health and prevention agenda is prioritised over the next five years. 

There is clearly much to consider when it comes to health, social care and wellbeing.  As organisations representing patients and professionals working in these sectors, we are committed to delivering the best services and outcomes for the public. But achieving this will require support and ambition from politicians throughout the fifth Assembly and beyond.

We look forward to working with you and your Government to explore how we can improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Wales with a focus on patient outcomes, patient experiences and maintaining sustainable services.

Yours sincerely,