The social services inspectorate for Wales published it annual report for 2002-03. It said that there needed to be more empowerment of service users and their carers in shaping services that were better able to respond to their needs.
Source: Social Services in Wales 2002-2003, Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (029 2082 5655)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Dec
A report summarised a national consultation (commissioned by the Welsh Assembly) of disabled children and young people to find out their views of the services they used, and recommendations for change to health, education, social care and leisure services across Wales. The attitudes and behaviour of staff were found to have by far the greatest impact on disabled children and young people s experiences of accessing services: they placed significant importance on being listened to, talked to and treated with understanding and respect.
Source: Claire Turner, Are you Listening? What disabled children and young people in Wales think about the services they use, NCH Wales (029 2022 2127) and Barnardo s Cymru
Links: Report part 1 (pdf) | Part 2 (pdf) | Part 3 (pdf)
Date: 2003-Dec
The Welsh Assembly Government announced new health targets for older people. The targets were to reduce deaths from stroke by 20 per cent in the 65-74 age group by 2012; reduce hip fractures by 10 per cent in the 75-plus age group by 2012; increase moderate to vigorous exercise behaviour in the 50-64 age group; and narrow the gap between the most deprived and least deprived groups.
Source: Press release 20 November 2003, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: WAG press release
Date: 2003-Nov
The Welsh Assembly Government announced an initiative to provide all pupils registered in primary schools in Wales, including those of primary age in special schools, with the opportunity of receiving a free healthy breakfast at school each day during the school week. The school breakfasts would be optional. Their principal focus would be those children who, for whatever reason, did not have this opportunity to have breakfast.
Source: Press release 11 November 2003, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: WAG press release
Date: 2003-Nov
A paper examined the links between poor housing, homelessness and ill-health in Wales.
Source: Housing and Homelessness On the health agenda in Wales?, Shelter Cymru (01792 469400)
Links: Paper (pdf)
Date: 2003-Oct
The Children's Commissioner for Wales published his second annual report. He condemned mental health services for young people as 'wholly unacceptable', and warned that a proposal in the Anti-social Behaviour Bill could lead to curfews being imposed on young people that would be in clear breach of their human rights.
Source: Annual Report and Accounts: 2002-2003, Children's Commissioner for Wales (01792 765600)
Links: Report (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Oct
Researchers evaluated the condition of partnership working between the National Health Service and local authorities in Wales. They said that partnership was progressing at a 'modest and manageable pace'.
Source: Ruth Young, Brian Hardy, Eileen Waddington and Nigel Jones, Partnership Working: Study of NHS and local authority services in Wales, Manchester Centre for Healthcare Management/University of Manchester (0161 273 2908) and Nuffield Institute for Health
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Sep
The Welsh Assembly Government published its detailed response to the report on Victoria Climbi (a girl, aged 8, tortured and murdered in 2000 by her great aunt and great aunt's boyfriend). It accepted all the recommendations made relating to the Assembly's areas of responsibility.
Source: Welsh Assembly Government Response to the Victoria Climbi Inquiry, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Response (pdf) | Climbi report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Sep
An independent review found that the health of people in Wales was relatively poor; that the configuration of health services placed an insupportable burden on the acute sector and its workforce; and that Wales did not get as much out of its health spending as it should. The report recommended a much greater emphasis on preventing ill health; greater efforts to break down barriers between health and social care; and an end to the underwriting of National Health Service deficits each year by the Welsh Assembly Government.
Source: The Review of Health and Social Care in Wales: Report of the Project Team advised by Derek Wanless, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | WAG press release | Community Care article (1) | Community Care article (2)
Date: 2003-Jul
Following consultation, the Welsh Assembly Government published an action plan aimed at promoting physical activity through active living; ensuring that public health, primary care and sport development professionals had the skills and knowledge to promote active living; increasing public knowledge of the health benefits of physical activity and the wide range of opportunities available; and reducing the barriers to active living.
Source: Healthy and Active Lifestyles in Wales: Framework for action, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Action plan (pdf) | Consultation responses (pdf) | WAG press release
Date: 2003-Jul
A study examined the age-related housing and domiciliary care and support requirements of older people in Wales. It said that the ageing population would pose many challenges in coming decades. The trend for local authorities to transfer their residential care homes to voluntary or private sector bodies seemed likely to continue because of the high costs of refurbishment to meet rising standards.
Source: The Age Related Housing and Domiciliary Care and Support Requirements of Older People in Wales, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 3353)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2003-Jun
The Welsh Assembly Government said that it rejected a report by the Office of Fair Trading (published in February 2003) on pharmacies, which recommended that the current control arrangements for National Health Service pharmacy contracts should be abolished.
Source: Press release 26.3.03, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Press release | OFT report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Mar
The Health (Wales) Bill received Royal assent. The new Act gave a new role to reformed community health councils.
Source: Health (Wales) Act 2003, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Act
Date: 2003-Feb
From 1 April 2003 local health boards took over responsibility for health services in Wales. The boards matched local authority areas, with a view to allowing health and social services to work more closely together. They were given responsibility for commissioning healthcare in their area, and would receive their funding direct from the Welsh Assembly Government.
Source: Press release 1.4.03, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: WAG press release | NHS Wales leaflet (pdf)
Date: 2003-Feb
A strategic framework was published for the future of palliative care services in Wales. The aim of the strategy is to improve all aspects of palliative care services including primary and community health, social services, hospitals, clinics and hospices.
Source: A Strategic Direction for Palliative Care Services in Wales, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Press release
Date: 2003-Feb
The Welsh Assembly Government set out an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach to local authority and National Health Service strategic planning for health, social care and well-being. It identified the partnership principles underpinning implementation of the policy, and described the roles and responsibilities of both statutory and non-statutory stakeholders.
Source: Health, Social Care and Well-being Strategies: Policy Guidance, NHS in Wales/Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 3286)
Links: Guidance (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2003-Feb
The Welsh Assembly Government launched a strategy for older people in Wales. It set out a comprehensive framework for collaboration between the Assembly, local government, the National Health Service, and voluntary organisations, aimed at ensuring that a co-ordinated approach is taken to older people s issues.
Source: The Strategy for Older People in Wales, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5191)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2003-Jan
The Health (Wales) Bill had its third reading. The Bill gives a new role to reformed community health councils.
Source: Health (Wales) Bill (2002), Wales Office, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 9.1.03, columns 334-373, TSO
Links: Text of Bill | Hansard
Date: 2003-Jan
