Senedd election 100 days to go: Health of the nation must be priority

Today marks 100 days until the Senedd election. 

With ‘health’ and the NHS consistently ranking as top public priorities, NHS leaders are urging all political parties to commit to five major changes the next Welsh Government must deliver to improve the nation’s health and wellbeing and secure the long-term sustainability of health and social care.

NHS leaders are calling for the top priority to be a cross-government strategy on prevention, as well as strengthening the health and social care workforce, creating joint performance and financial frameworks to support integration, stabilising social care, and developing a long-term strategy for NHS estates and infrastructure, including digital transformation. 

The recommendations follow a survey of 95 NHS leaders across Wales, reflecting both the immediate pressures facing services and the long-term challenges ahead.

Darren Hughes, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, said:

“As we edge closer to polling day and await the publication of party manifestos, we urge all political parties to take these five priorities seriously. They are grounded in the experience and insight of those who understand the health and care system better than anyone. 

“Unless there is a cross-government plan to reduce inequalities and preventable ill health, the NHS and care sectors will merely be working harder to stand still, consuming an ever-increasing slice of the new Welsh Government’s money.

“Our population is getting older, frailer and sicker with ever increasing demand for services, including more people with multiple long-term conditions needing more complex care. Data show demographic change and worsening population health will continue to drive demand upwards, even as NHS organisations are required to make significant efficiencies just to stand still.

“So often issues are looked at in isolation – for example, someone experiencing a long wait for an appointment or treatment. But these pressures are symptoms of wider, whole‑system challenges. Without bold, long‑term action across government, the NHS and social care will struggle to keep pace with the needs of the people of Wales.”

 

Read our full election report here.

 

NHS leaders in Wales are calling on the next Welsh Government to focus on five areas of transformation:

Prevention: Deliver a cross-government national strategy to improve health and wellbeing and reduce inequalities

This will shift the focus from simply treating illness to promoting health and wellbeing, reducing inequalities and tackling the wider determinants of health, boosting economic growth and supporting people to be active partners in their own health and wellbeing.
 

Workforce: Invest in a long-term plan for the NHS and social care workforce and their education

This will enable the implementation of multi-professional, digitally enabled, motivated, engaged and valued workforce across the NHS and social care. 
 

Performance and financial frameworks: Publish a joint health and social care performance and financial framework for seamless care and support 

This framework should emphasise prevention, effective treatment and timely support for individuals, and be measured consistently across health and social care, support joined up models of care and provide care closer to home.
 

Social care: Establish an independent rapid review to develop a long-term agreement on the sustainability of the social care system 

The review must address system-wide challenges and stabilise the social care system through sustainable funding and resourcing, considering workforce pay and conditions, access to publicly funded care and transparency and consistency around the collection and reporting of social care data.
 

Estates and infrastructure: Launch a long-term capital and infrastructure strategy 

Investing in the entire NHS and social care infrastructure, including buildings, equipment and digital infrastructure; but also leveraging technological and research advancements including genomics and AI. This will enable the NHS and social care to drive efficiency, productivity and sustainability, while improving patient outcomes and the physical working environment for staff.