Health and Social Care Quality Bill: briefing for Assembly Members

Key points

• The Welsh Government’s long-term plan for health and social care, A Healthier Wales, sets out a whole-system approach to the provision of services that is based on health and wellbeing and preventing illness. The proposed legislation is a lever to achieve this vision, particularly in relation to developing a shared understanding of how the health and care system will develop in future.
• During our response to the Green Paper in 2015 and the White Paper in 2017 we emphasised that any proposed legislation in this area would need to support the planning and delivery of a truly integrated health and social care system that supports the longterm goals of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
• If we are to ensure that we put the needs of people at the centre of our services, then a duty of quality is fundamental and integral. Previously we highlighted the need to be clear around what we mean by quality, especially in an integrated health and social care environment.
• Previously our members broadly supported the proposal within the White Paper around the introduction of a duty of candour and the proposal to allow NHS Trusts to appoint Vice Chairs.
• We recognise and value the patient voice to support, plan and deliver healthcare services. Through having a new Citizens’ Voice body we hope it will strengthen the voice of the service user in the health and social care system by representing the interests of people who access NHS and/or social services in Wales.
• The Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Bill is only part of the much broader agenda to improve the quality of care across NHS Wales organisations and social services.