Health

Plaid Cymru attacks ‘painfully slow’ progress on national care service

Published

6 months ago

November 7, 2025

PLAID CYMRU has accused the Labour Welsh Government of allowing plans for a national care service to become “painfully slow” and “drag on without direction”.

Mabon ap Gwynfor bemoaned progress on an ambition to create a national care service free at the point of need, which would aim to ensure parity between health and care.

The shadow health secretary said: “Under this government, progress has been painfully slow. What started as a bold vision has been allowed to drag on without direction.

“Because any plan, no matter how worthy, is not fit for purpose without the political will to drive it forward. We need urgent action. We need clarity on ambition.

“We need a map to set out how the national care service will bring together services, funding and accountability to deliver and ensure that people and their families are not let down.”

Plans to explore a national care service for Wales were agreed as part of the co-operation agreement between Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government which collapsed in 2024.

During a debate in the Senedd on Wednesday November 5, Mr ap Gwynfor warned social care had become a “forgotten pillar” of the health system.

He told the Senedd: “The moral test of any government is how it treats those who give care and those who need it. It’s time to pass that test.

“So, let’s accelerate the process towards a truly national care service – one that delivers on its promises, values its people, and gives dignity to every citizen it serves. Because when we care better, we all live better.”

James Evans, the Conservatives’ shadow health secretary, warned the Labour-Plaid Cymru plan to establish a national care service had failed to deliver any meaningful change.

“Years on, we’re still lacking that clear structure, the accountability and the measurable outcomes of what that national care service is going to deliver,” he said.

Mr Evans criticised the “ongoing failure” to build and retain a sustainable care workforce , with staff facing low pay and poor progression despite being on the front line.

Warning of unacceptable delays for unpaid carers to receive support, he advocated introducing a legal right to a guaranteed 14 days of respite care each year.

Sioned Williams, Plaid Cymru’s shadow social justice secretary, said more than 300,000 people care for a loved one across Wales, holding families together.

She told Senedd Members: “While their care keeps services afloat, worth over £10bn a year, they themselves are sinking – into exhaustion, financial hardship and, too often, invisibility.”

Ms Williams described delivery of carers’ needs assessments – a right under the Social Services and Wellbeing Act 2014 – as having fallen desperately short.

“We can’t let this continue,” she warned, urging ministers to close the gap between rhetoric and reality. “The consequences, both human and financial, are absolutely unsustainable.”

Labour’s Julie Morgan, a former social care minister who now sits on the backbenches, said the Welsh Government has worked to set out the parameters of a national care service.

While in government, Ms Morgan established an expert group with the aim of moving towards a national care service but she said “we’ve had very difficult financial times”.

She hailed the introduction of the real living wage, currently £13.45 an hour, for all social care workers and a £100-a-week cap on domiciliary care in Wales.

Siân Gwenllian, who cares for her mother, said it is a privilege but also a source of strain. The Plaid Cymru politician said: “Most carers are in a far more difficult position than me.

“And I sympathise a great deal with those carers who have to give up their work, who find it difficult to access support, who live in poverty and have to face a system where they cannot access the rights nor the respite opportunities that they deserve.”

Caerphilly's Plaid Cymru MS Lindsay Whittle — Caerphilly’s Plaid Cymru MS Lindsay Whittle

Caerphilly MS Lindsay Whittle spoke of his own sister’s experience of being in and out of hospital “unnecessarily” following a severe stroke – and questioned how much money could have been saved had she been given a care package and looked after at home.

“Social care is vital and we will all probably end up needing it. We probably all will. That is the reality of life, I’m afraid,” he said.

Responding to the debate, Dawn Bowden, Wales’ social care minister, committed to funding a national short-break scheme and carers’ support fund for a further three years from 2026.

She defended the Welsh Government’s ten-year phased approach to reform, saying she was surprised to hear criticism of protracted progress given Plaid Cymru agreed to the approach.

In the votes following the debate, the Senedd was deadlocked – rejecting every proposal before it, from Plaid Cymru’s motion to the Conservative and Labour amendments.

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney MS Dawn Bowden — Dawn Bowden, social care minister and MS for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney

Health

Turkish dental clinic to hold Haverfordwest meet-up

Published

2 days ago

April 29, 2026

Staff Writer

DENTISTS FROM ANTALYA TO VISIT COUNTY TOWN

A TURKISH dental clinic is running a dental meet-up in Haverfordwest this weekend as part of a promotional visit to Wales.

Unique Smile Turkey, which has a permanent office in Wales in Swansea, says its top dentists will be coming to Haverfordwest on Sunday (May 3).

The event is being advertised as a “Dental Meet-Up” and is scheduled to run from 10:00am to 6:00pm at the Mariners Hotel.

The visit features three clinicians: Assoc Prof Dr Ummuhan Tozoglu, described as a specialist in oral diagnosis, radiology and dental planning; Professor Dr Sinan Tozoglu, described as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and implantologist; and Professor Dr Ismet Duran, described as a periodontologist and implantologist.

The team have between twenty and 35 years of experience in their respective fields.

A contact number has also been provided for enquiries: +90 505 678 90 90.

The visit comes amid continuing interest in dental tourism, with many people in the UK looking overseas for cosmetic dentistry, implants and other private dental treatment.

Turkey has become one of the most popular destinations for such treatment, although patients are generally urged to make careful checks before committing to any procedure abroad, including aftercare arrangements, qualifications, insurance, treatment plans and what support would be available if complications arise after returning home.

Health

Welsh public backs urgent action on dementia ahead of Senedd elections

Published

4 days ago

April 28, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Calls grow for diagnosis, care and support to become national priority

NEW figures reveal overwhelming public demand for dementia to be placed at the top of Wales’ political agenda, with voters urging action on diagnosis, treatment and support ahead of the Senedd elections.

Research by Alzheimer’s Society Cymru shows that 83% of people in Wales want dementia made a healthcare priority, while 69% believe it is currently overlooked and underfunded.

More than a thousand adults were surveyed, with the findings highlighting growing concern over diagnosis rates and access to care. Wales continues to record some of the lowest dementia diagnosis rates in the UK, leaving thousands of families without clarity or support.

Around 51,000 people are currently living with dementia in Wales, a figure expected to rise to 70,000 by 2040. Despite this, only 57% of people have received a formal diagnosis, with rates falling as low as 48% in rural areas such as Powys.

Improving diagnosis remains a key concern, with 91% of those surveyed saying access to timely diagnosis must improve, and 87% backing increased investment in diagnostic services. However, respondents also stressed that diagnosis alone is not enough, with 91% saying people with dementia must receive better support, including help for unpaid carers.

Ceri Parry, from Cardiff, said she was forced to retire early from her role as a headteacher at the age of 55 due to a lack of support for her mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2020.

She said: “I fully support improving early and accurate diagnosis, but this must also come with improved support and care for families afterwards. There’s five years between my relatives’ diagnoses and nothing changed. On both occasions we left with a leaflet and the unknown.

“The wait for improved diagnosis, treatment and support needs to end. Dementia must be a top priority for the next Welsh Government, for families living with it now and for those who will face it in the future.

“We also found there was no diagnosis assessment available in the Welsh language. That’s a fundamental issue if a diagnosis is to be accurate and safe for people who speak Welsh as their first language. Ignoring someone’s identity is ignoring the person.”

The survey also found that visible action would be key to restoring public confidence, with 72% calling for improved dementia services, 64% backing more funding for research, and 63% wanting better access to treatments.

Gemma Roberts, National Influencing Manager at Alzheimer’s Society Cymru, said: “Dementia is Wales’s biggest killer and one of the greatest health and social care challenges we face.

“Hope is on the horizon with new treatments and faster, more accurate diagnosis, but the system is not keeping pace. Without urgent transformation, people in Wales risk missing out.

“We are at a turning point. The next Welsh Government must deliver a bold new dementia strategy that transforms diagnosis and ensures access to quality care, treatments and support.”

Health

Dentists warn next Welsh Government must act to save NHS dentistry

Published

1 week ago

April 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DENTISTS have warned that NHS dentistry in Wales is at a “make or break” point, with access to treatment now ranking as one of the biggest local concerns for voters ahead of the Senedd election.

The British Dental Association said new polling by YouGov showed local dentistry services were now a top doorstep issue in Wales, with 30% of adults naming it as one of the most important issues in their local area.

That places dentistry ahead of crime and education, both on 14%, and above job opportunities, which were cited by 27% of respondents.

The poll also found that 79% of people in Wales believe the Welsh Government should be doing more to improve NHS dentistry, while only 11% think ministers are doing all they reasonably can.

According to the BDA, unmet need for NHS dentistry now stands at around a third of the adult population in Wales. One in five people said they had tried but failed to get an NHS dental appointment in the past two years, while a further 13% said they had not tried because they assumed they would be unable to secure one.

The professional body said the figures suggest Wales may now be the worst place in Britain to be an NHS dental patient.

The warning comes after controversial dental reforms were introduced in Wales on April 1. The BDA says the changes were forced through without proper testing and have already led some practices to return NHS contracts or reduce their NHS commitment.

It is calling for a “safety net” for struggling practices, including a pause on implementation until 2027 while further improvements are worked up.

The association is also calling for a break from what it describes as chronic underfunding, better protection for vulnerable patients, and a change of tone from the next Welsh Government.

Russell Gidney, Chair of the BDA’s Welsh General Dental Practice Committee, said: “NHS dentistry in Wales was already in crisis, and without decisive action things are set to go from bad to worse.

“Untested reforms have already seen many dentists walk away from the NHS. Whoever forms the next government will need a plan to guarantee the future of this service.

“For voters facing access and cost of living crises dentistry matters. Political choices mean it is now a real concern on the doorstep – polling ahead of crime, education and even jobs as a top-flight issue facing Wales.

“Our message to all candidates and all parties is very clear: dentistry is on the ballot paper in this election. And the public will measure how you choose to respond.

“This is a service millions of voters depend on. Meaningful action will be rewarded. Complacency will be punished.”

The Welsh Government has defended its reforms, saying the new contract is designed to “make NHS dentistry more accessible, fairer and sustainable,” with a stronger focus on prevention and prioritising patients based on clinical need.

The YouGov survey of 1,092 Welsh adults was carried out between February 2 and February 9, 2026.