THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has this week (May 15) launched a consultation on its Disabled People’s Rights Plan, setting out a positive ambition for advancing the rights and opportunities of all disabled people across Wales over the next decade.

Based on the Social Model of Disability and guided by the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People, the consultation outlines both immediate actions and long-term outcomes to create lasting change in how society addresses barriers to inclusion.

The plan is based on the work of the Disability Rights Taskforce, which brought together people with lived experience and expertise. It addresses real challenges faced by disabled people in their everyday lives, with thematic working groups focusing on specific areas.

Following the consultation, an External Advisory Board will provide ongoing expertise and oversight as the plan moves into implementation.

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, said: “As a government we are committed to ensuring that disabled people can participate in Welsh society on an equitable basis, free from barriers, and to creating an inclusive and accessible environment for all.

“Despite some progress in recent years, disabled people in Wales continue to face significant barriers in everyday life. This 10-year plan represents our commitment to true inclusion and participation.

“The Disability Rights Taskforce’s work has extensively shaped this plan, ensuring it’s grounded in lived experience. Now we need to hear from as many disabled people and organisations as possible to ensure the final plan delivers meaningful change across Wales.”

The 12-week consultation welcomes input from individuals, community groups, businesses and organisations, with particular emphasis on hearing directly from disabled people about their priorities.

The consultation is open until 7 August 2025.

SENEDD Members scrutinised health chiefs about years-long delays to digital transformation of eye care, with some services still relying on paper records and fax machines.

Peter Fox, the newly elected chair of the Senedd’s health committee, pressed witnesses about a lack of digital infrastructure “holding back” improvement in eye care services.

Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) was moved to level three on ministers’ intervention framework in March due to concerns about its ability to effectively deliver major programmes.

Helen Thomas, DHCW’s chief executive, said: “We know there are many opportunities that digital and data services can support… in terms of the challenges eye care services face.

“And we believe there is a way to go in terms of ensuring that they have the full digital infrastructure that is needed.”

David Thomas, director of digital at Cardiff and Vale, said an electronic patient record system has been deployed in all ophthalmology sub-specialties in his health board area.

But, asked about progress on digital stalling elsewhere, Ms Thomas told the committee DHCW hopes to complete a full national rollout after a current contract ends in early 2027.

The digital eye care programme began in January 2020, with £8.5m allocated by ministers.

A press release, published in March 2021, said: “The project, being led by Cardiff and Vale university health board, has already commenced rollout across Wales.”

Sam Hall, director of primary digital services at DHCW, said an electronic referral system was part of the original programme “but hasn’t yet been delivered”.

Labour’s Lesley Griffiths, a former health minister, pointed out that the “OpenEyes” digital patient records project had an agreed deadline to be rolled out by March 2023.

“But this didn’t happen,” said the Wrexham Senedd member. “So, I wonder if you could explain why it didn’t happen and what the current status is please.”

Mr Thomas pointed to the impact of the pandemic during the meeting on May 14.

Warning of problems getting people “on the same page”, he said: “In hindsight, in terms of lessons learned, the engagement could have worked a lot better with other health boards.”

He said OpenEyes is live in Cardiff and Vale, and one service at Cwm Taf Morgannwg, with plans to roll out the patient record system to all ophthalmology services within ten months.

Mr Thomas told the committee that Welsh Government funding covered capital spending, leaving health boards to meet the everyday costs such as employing more staff.

He explained additional funding has been requested, given wider financial constraints, to cover local implementation costs of around £50,000 for each health board,

“We do now have the buy-in from health boards to proceed,” he said. “But we need to recognise that there was a period where things didn’t progress as they should.”

Emma Cooke, an executive director at Cardiff and Vale, added: “We weren’t demonstrating its value to the rest of Wales… that’s the big thing I think we should have picked up quicker.”

Michael Stechman – clinical director for ophthalmology at Cardiff and Vale, and a consultant general surgeon – warned of a Wales-wide shortage of ophthalmologists.

He also raised concerns about the centralisation of services creating challenges – with major trauma, neurosurgery and vascular surgery all “competing” for theatre space.

Turning to Betsi Cadwaladr university health board, Mr Fox pointed out that about 40,000 patients in the area were waiting for ophthalmology outpatient appointments.

Carol Shillabeer, chief executive of Betsi Cadwaladr, replied: “It’s probably fair to say the health board has not made as much progress over the past four-five years as other areas.

“It’s something for us to learn from.”

Ms Shillabeer, who was appointed in 2023, outlined a focus on community ophthalmology services to free up capacity for secondary care teams to see the highest-risk patients.

Pressed about underreporting of incidents, the chief executive emphasised the importance of transparency and candour due to potentially “life-changing” levels of patient harm.

A MILFORD HAVEN councillor diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer is urging men across Pembrokeshire to take action and get tested.

Councillor Guy Woodham, former Mayor of Milford Haven, is backing a major awareness campaign led by Welsh charity Prostate Cymru, which is offering free PSA blood tests as part of a national screening drive. The next testing event will be held at Narberth RFC on Saturday, 1 June.

Cllr Woodham, now 56, was fit, healthy and had no symptoms when his GP suggested a routine check-up.

“My PSA level was slightly raised, which led to more tests,” he said. “I braced myself to be told I might need surgery, but nothing prepared me for the news that it was already stage four and had spread to my bones. I now have incurable, advanced cancer.”

He added: “There’s currently no screening programme, and some GPs are still reluctant to offer the PSA test. But it’s all we’ve got. I had no symptoms, and yet I was already stage four. My message is simple: get tested. It could save your life.”

Prostate Cymru is aiming to test over 3,000 men across Wales amid ongoing concerns that too many men struggle to access free PSA tests through their GP. So far, more than 1,400 men have been tested at events in Kenfig Hill, Cowbridge, Brecon and Swansea — with 90 red alerts issued to men requiring urgent follow-up.

Men aged 50 or over are eligible for a free test, with that threshold reduced to 45 for those with a family history of the disease or for Black men, who are statistically at higher risk.

The Narberth event is being supported by JCP Solicitors, which has named Prostate Cymru its Charity of the Year. CEO Hayley Davies said: “One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Early detection makes all the difference.”

On the day, attendees will be able to speak with a specialist nurse and consultant about the PSA test and the next steps if results are elevated.

A further testing event will take place at Aberystwyth RFC on Sunday, 8 June, with plans to expand the campaign into North Wales later this year.

To register for a test, email [email protected] or visit www.prostatecymru.com.