The Chief Medical Officer for Wales published his annual report for 2006. Overall health in Wales was improving: but action was needed to address rising obesity levels, continued high rates of smoking, and a growing culture of binge drinking.
Source: Annual Report 2006, Chief Medical Officer for Wales/Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report | Report (Welsh) | NHS Wales press release
Date: 2007-Nov
An audit report in Wales said that the independence of vulnerable people and the treatment of others continued to be compromised by unnecessary delays in hospital, because the problem of delayed transfers of care had not been tackled effectively in a whole-systems way.
Source: Tackling Delayed Transfers of Care Across the Whole System: Overview report, Wales Audit Office (029 2026 0260)
Links: Report | WAO press release | WLGA press release | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Nov
The Welsh Assembly government announced that it would appoint a commissioner for older people – the first in the United Kingdom. The commissioner would be given statutory powers to review the impact of public services on older people and examine the reasons for any failings.
Source: Press release 12 July 2007, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Community Care report
Date: 2007-Jul
The education inspectorate in Wales said that guidance issued by the Welsh Assembly Government might be helping to delay the age at which children in primary schools started smoking and experimenting with drugs and alcohol: but in secondary schools it had had little impact on changing the attitudes and values of a significant minority, who continued to smoke, drink alcohol to excess, or use illegal drugs.
Source: Education about Substance Misuse, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales (029 2044 6446)
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release
Date: 2007-Jun
An article examined the issues surrounding the experiences of ageing in Wales; the main social policy responses followed by the Welsh Assembly Government to an ageing population; and what form a Welsh social policy of ageing in the twenty-first century might take.
Source: Judith Phillips and Vanessa Burholt, 'Ageing in Wales: policy responses to an ageing population', Contemporary Wales, Volume 19 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Jun
An article examined the results of a study of complaints to social services in Wales involving children, and their use of advocacy services commissioned by local authorities. It revealed the adult-dominated nature of the children's complaints system, and the limited involvement of advocacy in supporting children who made a complaint. There was a pressing need for a more child-focused approach that gave authentic voice to children and their rights.
Source: Andrew Pithouse and Anne Crowley, 'Adults rule? Children, advocacy and complaints to social services', Children & Society, Volume 21 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-May
A report by a committee of the National Assembly for Wales said that the performance of the Welsh Ambulance Trust was 'appalling' and 'unacceptable'.
Source: Ambulance Services in Wales, Audit Committee/National Assembly for Wales (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report | WAO paper | BBC report
Date: 2007-Mar
Date: 2007-Feb
Date: 2007-Feb
A report by a committee of the National Assembly for Wales examined services for disabled young people in Wales. Its recommendations included more involvement for young disabled people to choose their own carers; better complaints procedures; and more suitable rented accommodation to be made available.
Source: Service Provision for Disabled Young People: 'Why is it that disabled young people are always left until last?', Equality of Opportunity Committee/National Assembly for Wales (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Jan
The Welsh Assembly gave final approval to a plan to introduce free prescriptions in Wales from 1 April 2007.
Source: Press release 23 January 2007, NHS Wales (01443 233333)
Links: NHS Wales press release | Citizens Advice press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jan
Three linked working papers examined perceptions of responsibility for health at different levels in Wales – including individual, organizational, and state roles. Schools accepted a high degree of responsibility for promoting the health of pupils. Businesses accepted some degree of responsibility for the health of employees and customers in the area of accidents and injuries: but otherwise they took very little action to promote health, and most did not want to do any more.
Source: Simon Murphy, Emily Harrop, Sarah MacDonald and Heather Rothwell, An Examination of Perceptions of Roles and Responsibilities for Health amongst the General Public, Working Paper 76, School of Social Sciences/Cardiff University (029 2087 5179) | Sarah Macdonald, Emily Harrop, Heather Rothwell and Simon Murphy, Organisational Roles and Responsibilities for Health: Interviews with Representatives from the Statutory and Non-statutory Sectors, Working Paper 77, School of Social Sciences/Cardiff University | Heather Rothwell, Simon Murphy, Sarah MacDonald and Emily Harrop, Organisational Roles and Responsibilities for Health: A pilot survey of businesses, primary and secondary schools and local government, Working Paper 78, School of Social Sciences/Cardiff University
Links: Working Paper 76 | Abstract 76 | Working Paper 77 | Abstract 77 | Working Paper 78 | Abstract 78
Date: 2007-Jan
