Agenda and decisions

Venue: Y Siambr - Y Senedd

Media

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Items
Expected timing No. Item

(45 mins)

1.

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Supporting documents:

Decision:

The item started at 13.30

All 15 questions were asked. Questions 8 and 10 were grouped together for answer. Questions 4 and 14 were answered by the Deputy Minister for Children and Social Services. Question 15 was transferred for written answer by the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and European Programmes.

(10 mins)

2.

Questions to the Counsel General

Decision:

The item started at 14.17

The question was asked.

Motion to suspend Standing Orders

 

The item started at 14.25

 

NDM5177 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Orders 33.6 and 33.8:

 

Suspends that part of Standing Order 11.16 that requires the weekly statement and announcement to constitute the timetable for business in Plenary for the following week, to allow NNDM5176 to be considered in Plenary on Tuesday 5 March 2013.

 

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

 

(15 mins)

3.

Questions to the Assembly Commission

Decision:

The item started at 14.26

Both questions were asked.

(60 mins)

4.

Welsh Conservatives Debate

 

NDM5171 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes the importance of recognising and celebrating Welsh cultural identity;

 

2. Believes consideration should be given to the introduction of a Welsh Honours System to acknowledge and reward those who have made valuable contributions to Welsh life; and

 

3. Welcomes the widespread public support which exists for making St. David’s Day a national holiday in Wales and calls on the Welsh Government to make appropriate representations to achieve that aim.

 

The following amendment has been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Insert as new point at end of the motion:

 

Believes that the Welsh language is an integral part of the diversity and cultural identity of Wales and calls on the Welsh Government to outline how it will meet its targets to increase the number of pupils who learn through the medium of Welsh, to improve the everyday use of the Welsh language by future generations.

Decision:

The item started at 14.30

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5171 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes the importance of recognising and celebrating Welsh cultural identity;

 

2. Believes consideration should be given to the introduction of a Welsh Honours System to acknowledge and reward those who have made valuable contributions to Welsh life; and

 

3. Welcomes the widespread public support which exists for making St. David’s Day a national holiday in Wales and calls on the Welsh Government to make appropriate representations to achieve that aim.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

44

0

5

49

The motion without amendment was agreed.

(60 mins)

5.

Welsh Conservatives Debate

 

NDM5172 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes the negative impact that poor ambulance response times can have on the health and wellbeing of patients;

 

2. Notes that 11 ambulance stations have closed in Wales since 2008/09;

 

3. Expresses concern that too many Welsh patients are waiting in excess of target times for an ambulance response;

 

4. Regrets that the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust has reduced the total number of emergency ambulances operating in Wales in recent years;

 

5. Regrets that the uncertainty surrounding the future shape of ambulance services has the potential to undermine the on-going process of NHS reorganisation in Wales.

 

6. Calls upon the Welsh Government to:

 

a) increase the number of emergency ambulances operating in Wales;

 

b) ensure that Wales has an adequate network of ambulance stations across the country; and

 

c) provide an assurance that the on-going Ministerial review of the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust will deliver improved response times.

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Insert at the end of point 3:

 

‘and that some patients not classed as a category A emergency are subsequently waiting several hours in pain for an ambulance to become available’

 

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

In point 6c) delete ‘deliver improved response times’ and replace with:

 

‘:

 

i) deliver measurable improved patient outcomes; and

 

ii) examine the appropriateness of the current stand-alone model’

 

Amendment 3 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Add as new sub point at end of point 6:

 

‘invest in the up skilling and training of existing ambulance service staff to paramedic level.’

Decision:

The item started at 15.29

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5172 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes the negative impact that poor ambulance response times can have on the health and wellbeing of patients;

 

2. Notes that 11 ambulance stations have closed in Wales since 2008/09;

 

3. Expresses concern that too many Welsh patients are waiting in excess of target times for an ambulance response;

 

4. Regrets that the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust has reduced the total number of emergency ambulances operating in Wales in recent years;

 

5. Regrets that the uncertainty surrounding the future shape of ambulance services has the potential to undermine the on-going process of NHS reorganisation in Wales.

 

6. Calls upon the Welsh Government to:

 

a) increase the number of emergency ambulances operating in Wales;

 

b) ensure that Wales has an adequate network of ambulance stations across the country; and

 

c) provide an assurance that the on-going Ministerial review of the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust will deliver improved response times.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

13

0

36

49

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Insert at the end of point 3:

 

‘and that some patients not classed as a category A emergency are subsequently waiting several hours in pain for an ambulance to become available’

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

24

0

25

49

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

In point 6c) delete ‘deliver improved response times’ and replace with:

 

‘:

 

i) deliver measurable improved patient outcomes; and

 

ii) examine the appropriateness of the current stand-alone model’

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

36

0

13

49

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

Add as new sub point at end of point 6:

 

‘invest in the up skilling and training of existing ambulance service staff to paramedic level.’

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

11

0

38

49

Amendment 3 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5172 William Graham (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Notes the negative impact that poor ambulance response times can have on the health and wellbeing of patients;

 

2. Notes that 11 ambulance stations have closed in Wales since 2008/09;

 

3. Expresses concern that too many Welsh patients are waiting in excess of target times for an ambulance response;

 

4. Regrets that the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust has reduced the total number of emergency ambulances operating in Wales in recent years;

 

5. Regrets that the uncertainty surrounding the future shape of ambulance services has the potential to undermine the on-going process of NHS reorganisation in Wales.

 

6. Calls upon the Welsh Government to:

 

a) increase the number of emergency ambulances operating in Wales;

 

b) ensure that Wales has an adequate network of ambulance stations across the country; and

 

c) provide an assurance that the on-going Ministerial review of the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust will:


 i) deliver measurable improved patient outcomes; and

 

ii) examine the appropriateness of the current stand-alone model

For

Abstain

Against

Total

24

0

25

49

The motion as amended was not agreed.

(60 mins)

6.

Plaid Cymru Debate

 

NDM5170 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly:

 

1. Regrets the failure of the Welsh Government to ensure that workforce planning within the NHS has been robust and sufficient to meet the needs of the Welsh population over the long term; and

 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to address the shortage of doctors by introducing a programme of financial incentives to increase the training of doctors in areas where there are, or are predicted to be, shortages.

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Insert new point after point 1 and renumber accordingly:

 

Notes the General Medical Council survey of junior doctors in Wales which revealed huge inconsistencies in the standard of medical training at Welsh hospitals and calls on the Welsh Government to invest in more modern medical techniques and medicines, to improve junior doctor training and educational opportunities at Wales' hospitals and attract more medical staff to Wales.

 

The General Medical Council Survey can be found on the following link:

 

http://www.gmc-uk.org/National_training_survey_2012_key_findings_report.pdf_49280407.pdf

 

Amendment 2 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

In point 2 delete ‘introducing’ and replace with ‘giving consideration to the introduction of’

 

Amendment 3 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Notes that current financial pressures faced by the Welsh NHS have the potential to contribute to recruitment challenges.

Decision:

The item started at: 16.32

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5170 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

 

To propose that the National Assembly:

 

1. Regrets the failure of the Welsh Government to ensure that workforce planning within the NHS has been robust and sufficient to meet the needs of the Welsh population over the long term; and

 

2. Calls on the Welsh Government to address the shortage of doctors by introducing a programme of financial incentives to increase the training of doctors in areas where there are, or are predicted to be, shortages.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

6

0

43

49

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

 

Insert new point after point 1 and renumber accordingly:

 

Notes the General Medical Council survey of junior doctors in Wales which revealed huge inconsistencies in the standard of medical training at Welsh hospitals and calls on the Welsh Government to invest in more modern medical techniques and medicines, to improve junior doctor training and educational opportunities at Wales' hospitals and attract more medical staff to Wales.

 

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

24

0

25

49

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

In point 2 delete ‘introducing’ and replace with ‘giving consideration to the introduction of’

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

13

0

36

49

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

Amendment 3 - William Graham (South Wales East)

 

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Notes that current financial pressures faced by the Welsh NHS have the potential to contribute to recruitment challenges.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

18

0

31

49

Amendment 3 was not agreed.

As the Assembly did not agree the motion without amendment, and did not agree the amendments tabled to the motion, the motion was therefore not agreed.

Voting Time

The item started at 17.31

 

Votes Summary

Supporting documents:

(30 mins)

7.

Short Debate

 

NDM5173 Llyr Huws Gruffydd (North Wales):

 

A scan in time – MRI breast scanning for high risk young women

Decision:

The item started at 17.39

NDM5173 Llyr Huws Gruffydd (North Wales):

A scan in time – MRI breast scanning for high risk young women

Record of Proceedings

Supporting documents: