Meetings

The Committee considered the petition and congratulated the petitioner on his successful campaigning over many years, Members welcomed the positive outcome of the Welsh Government committing to introduce legislation to introduce direct payments for continuing health care. Considering this Members agreed to close the petition.

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the Welsh Government has recognised this as an issue and are in the process of trying to address it. The Committee agreed to keep the petition open and welcome the offer of further progress updates from the Deputy Minister.

The Committee considered the petition and noted how important it is to ensure the current challenges, which limit individual’s voice and control, are addressed.

Members welcomed the offer of an update from the Deputy Minister and agreed to keep the petition open and consider it again when the update is received.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to the Welsh Government expressing concern regarding the failure to ensure individual’s independence and control over their care provision. The Committee also agreed to ask them to:

• Promote the use of Independent User Trusts (IUTs) within NHS CHC Framework, supported by detailed practical / workable guidance on the process of setting up and maintaining such Trusts.
• Include a template example of such a Trust: a template that is as simple as is possible and one that prioritises the maintenance of the individual’s independence and control over their care provision; &
• Ensure that the Trustees of the IUT would be appointed by the individual beneficiary or a Centre for Independent Living or similar entity.

The Committee considered the correspondence received and agreed to

• write to the experts named by the petitioner to seek their views on the petition to shape the letter to the Minister
• write back to the Minister to share the petitioner’s disappointment and the analysis from the experts
• seek clarification about whether there will be an expectation for Local Health Boards to provide joint packages and commission Independent User Trusts and what guidance and support will be in place to ensure this happens; and
• Given that the legislation is the barrier, ask why steps are not being taken to amend the flawed legislation.

The Committee agreed to write to the new Health Minister seeking an update on the work of the working group and a timetable for progress on this issue.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and, in light of the commitment made by the Minister to consider options to address the issues raised, agreed to pass the petition for further consideration by its successor committee following the Senedd election.