A new Bill will see private profit removed from children’s care and people given more control over their healthcare, the Welsh Government has announced.
The Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill was laid in the Senedd yesterday and sets out how the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government will commit to removing private profit from the care of looked-after children.
At an event hosted by the charity, Voices from Care Cymru, Wales’ social care minister, Dawn Bowden, heard from the young people who were campaigning on this issue.
“The Welsh Government is committed to an ambitious reform of children’s care services so they work better for children and their families,” said Dawn.
“We do not believe that private profit should be made from caring for children and young people whose circumstances require them to be in the care of a local authority.”
The Bill will also make a change to direct payments for continuing healthcare, which will allow disabled people and those with long-term health needs to decide for themselves who provides the care they need.
Those in need of this care in Wales currently have no say in the matter, as their care needs are arranged by the NHS. The proposed choice is already an option for those receiving social care in Wales.
We’ve introduced a bill to remove profit from the care of looked after children. 😀https://t.co/ZwYUX5XdCW
— Welsh Government Health and Social Care (@WGHealthandCare) May 20, 2024
This is what it means to care-experienced young people: 👇@VoicesFromCare pic.twitter.com/qx2tl8PPQk
Rhian Davies, CEO at Disability Wales, explained: “Voice, choice, and control are vital to ensuring the rights of disabled people including people with long term health conditions. The necessary changes to continuing healthcare reflecting these are very welcome.
“For too long, those on continuing healthcare have not been able to decide how and by whom their care is delivered. This change will allow disabled people to have and enjoy the same rights as those on social care direct payments.”
Image credit: iStock
