Debate on health and social care

Thousands of people in Wales are still waiting "far too long" for NHS treatment according to a Conservative AM.

William Graham told AMs that Welsh patients are still not getting the "best possible outcomes" during a debate on the Together for Health initiative on 15 May 2012.

Mr Graham said: "One in eight people in Wales remain on an NHS waiting list following a rise in the number of patients not yet seen.

"Despite the hard work of frontline staff our health boards are treading water financially."

AMs were debating the Together for Health initiative, which sets out a vision for the NHS in Wales based around community services.

The initiative aims to educate people about the hazards of conditions such as obesity, and habits such as smoking and drinking.

Plaid Health Spokesperson Elin Jones used her contribution to point to the fact that the programme of hospital service reconfiguration was not clearly outlined in the Welsh Labour party's manifesto.

She told AMs: "It is like the NHS reform in England in that respect; it is a programme that lacks a clear democratic mandate."

Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats on health, Kirsty Williams, congratulated the government on a better focus on public health but issued a warning about NHS staff recruitment and retention.

She said: "It is increasingly difficult to staff medic rotas and get the right type of medics with the right qualifications to provide services.

"I've seen little of what the minister has said today to address that."

Replying to the debate on behalf of the government, Health Minister Lesley Griffiths acknowledged that one of the main challenges facing the NHS was recruitment.

But Ms Griffiths defended her government's policy of hospital service reconfiguration.

She told AMs: "I want the people of Wales to have the best health outcomes and that is why reconfiguration is not about downgrading, it is about making sure we maintain those services."

The motion as amended, was passed.

Read this in Welsh.