CARMARTHENSHIRE County Council will ask Welsh Government to facilitate the creation of an integrated social model for health and care throughout the Hywel Dda area.
Councillors took part in a lengthy debate at full council on Wednesday (June 13) following a notice of motion submitted by Carmarthen south councillor Gareth John who said health services in the area have become ‘increasingly fragile’.
He put it to council that an integrated community care model, with democratically elected representatives, would be an effective way of relieving pressure on the NHS.
Part of the motion read: “For integrated care to become a reality the capacity within primary, community and social care must be significantly increased and work seamlessly across boundaries. Integrated primary healthcare and public health teams comprising of a comprehensive range of clinical, non-medical and social care professionals would be in a far better position to address the challenges of an ageing population than the inconsistent nature of the existing organisational arrangements.”
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr John added: “This seeks to build on a general consensus for a locally based community health and social care service to take the pressure of our A&E and wards.
“This motion doesn’t need legal change. If the will is there it could happen tomorrow. Our people need the best, they deserve the best, and they expect the best – let’s get on and deliver it.”
The motion was backed by the majority of the councillors although not by the opposition who had wanted council to consider an amended notice of motion, disallowed by the Chair Cllr Mansel Charles.
Leader of the Opposition, Cllr Rob James, said: “What you are proposing is unfunded – it’s another layer to the NHS. I don’t believe that this is the best way.”
The full notice of motion can be seen as part of the full council agenda, as well as a webcast archive of the debate, on the council’s website, www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales
Meeting agenda: http://democracy.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=155&MId=1237
Webcast archive of meeting: https://carmarthenshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/356939
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