North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has challenged the First Minister this week over what action his Government is taking to address the barriers to employment facing people with conditions such as ME.
Mr Isherwood is concerned that currently in Wales not enough is being done to support people with long-term, fluctuating health conditions looking for work.
Raising the matter with Carwyn Jones in the Assembly Chamber yesterday, he said:
“After Action for ME delivered a support project with the North Bristol NHS Trust for people with ME who are in employment, seeking a new job or considering how to approach work in the future, 72 per cent of clients achieved their employment goals.
“How will you ensure, therefore, that the Welsh Government, looking at the good practice very nearby across the border, will address the barriers faced by people with long-term, fluctuating conditions such as myalgic encephalomyelitis and ensure that these are produced co-productively in accordance with the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 requirements?”
The First Minister replied: “We are taking a preventative approach to removing health barriers to work through the Healthy Working Wales programme and our new all-age employability plan will strengthen our approach to supporting low-activity groups, including support for those with longer-term health conditions, to access employment opportunities.”