Questioning the Economy and Transport Secretary, I quoted the call in the North Wales Economic Ambition Board’s ‘A Growth Vision for North Wales Draft Proposition Document’ for North Wales to be given new powers and responsibilities to make key decisions at a regional level ‘to facilitate growth in key policy areas such as transport and employment’.
Responding to the Statement by the Health Secretary on ‘The Autism Updated Delivery Plan and Autism Code of Practice’, I noted that Flintshire County Council is hosting the IAS (Integrated Autism Service) in North Wales, and referred to concerns raised with me by local autistic individuals and families. Until the Welsh Government understands that failure to address the communication needs of autistic people means that their needs cannot be identified, vast sums will continue to be spent getting it wrong.
I called for a Welsh Government Statement on access to pulmonary rehabilitation for Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) patients, where a growing body of evidence shows that tailored pulmonary rehabilitation provision for ILD can contribute significantly to improved quality of life in accordance with NICE guidelines.
Having met Trustees of the registered charity, Wales for Africa Health Links Network, to discuss health links across North Wales with Ethiopia and Lesotho, I also called for a Welsh Government Statement on this. The charity told me that although they were getting a big impact for a small input, including volunteer health professionals developing their soft skills and benefiting the NHS, Welsh Government support for the programme has been static for years.
I Chaired meetings of both the Cross Party Group on Hospices and Palliative Care, at which I was re-elected as Chair, and the Cross Party Group on Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency, and attended both the Cross Party Group on Tourism and a Trustee meeting of shared parenting charity FNF Both Parents Matter Cymru.
Other Cardiff events included Breast Cancer Now, Breast Cancer UK, DWP ‘Disability Confidence’ scheme (supporting employers to benefit from the talents disabled people can bring to the workplace), and Muslim Council of Wales Annual Interfaith event.
North Wales engagements included a visit with AVOW to the Community Care Collaborative CIC Hub at the Salvation Army, Wrexham, addressing people’s physical health, mental health and social needs together, a visit to Theatr Clwyd to discuss their proposed redevelopment, the 175th Celebration Service at St Michael’s and All Angels Church, Llanfynydd, and speaking at the ‘Anglesey Says No to Pylons’ public meeting.
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