“Lost time” in waiting for Westminster has left Wales’ social care plans “trailing behind”

Plaid Cymru has called for Welsh Government to announce long overdue plans for social care reform.

Westminster is expected to announce its plans for social care reform in England this week.

The Welsh Government has previously stated its plan was “ready to go” but was waiting for the UK Prime Minister to act first.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on health and social care has said that Welsh Government’s preference for “hanging on to Boris Johnson’s coat-tails” has left Wales “trailing behind” when it comes to social care reform

Plaid Cymru has previously proposed reforms that would look at the way social care is funded, to provide a seamless health and care service that would put the patient at the heart of the service, and bring the rights and pay of care workers progressively in line with NHS staff.

Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for health and social care, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said,

“In maintaining a preference for hanging on to Boris Johnson’s coat-tails when it comes to social care, rather than putting in a plan here in Wales, Welsh Government has lost time in developing the Welsh approach.

“Social care in Wales has long been in desperate need of reform. The way it is funded is regressive, patients remain in hospital longer than they need to while services argue whether their needs are ‘social’ or ‘health’ and the rights and pay of care workers need to be brought progressively in line with NHS workers.

“Welsh Government has previously said it was ready to ‘go alone’ if UK Government was not ready to reform social care. Now we face the prospect of social care being reformed in England, Welsh Government’s stance of hanging on to Westminster’s coat-tails has left Wales trailing behind. One might wonder if we’ve been left in the cloakroom.”