I was pleased to lead the Plaid Cymru debate on the NHS workforce yesterday, and have the chance to pay tribute to hard-working NHS staff, and to call on government to implement an effective and sustainable workforce plan for the Welsh NHS. Here is part of my speech, or you can watch the full debate here: http://www.senedd.tv/Meeting/Archive/363db281-e76b-49d4-b4b3-3d28a9257192?startPos=13026&autostart=True

“One of our most valuable treasures, which is appreciated over and above every other public service in Wales, I’m sure I’m right in saying, is the health service, the NHS, and the most valuable resource of the NHS is its workforce—those people who, through a combination of their skills and their commitment, ensure that each and every one of us can get the best possible care when we need it most. One of the greatest duties that the Welsh Government has is to ensure that that workforce gets the support necessary, is planned properly so that we have the right people in the right places with the right skills in order to care for patients, and so there are sufficient numbers of people encouraged to come into the health service, and that they are getting the best possible training to make it a sustainable service for the future.”