Wales will take part in the largest ever UK wide pandemic response exercise this Autumn.

The commitment is part of the Welsh Government’s comprehensive response to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s first module published today, which examined the nation’s preparedness and resilience prior to the pandemic.

The response outlines the significant steps already taken to strengthen Wales’ emergency preparedness.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said: “Our priority is to keep the people of Wales safe. We are committed to learning lessons from the pandemic and building on the existing foundations to ensure Wales is prepared for future emergencies.

“Over the past six months, we have worked with other devolved governments and the UK Government to carefully consider and begin the progress of implementing these important recommendations from the inquiry.

“We have taken action to improve our emergency response capabilities and will continue to build on this.

“This will include Wales playing a full role in the major exercise this Autumn to test the UK’s capabilities, plans and procedures to prepare for possible future pandemics.”

A new group is being established – the Wales Coordination Group – to oversee the planning and participation of Wales in the exercise. It will have representation from all key organisations involved at the national and local level, in recognition of the broad scope of the exercise.

THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF NURSING has released a damning report exposing the devastating consequences of “Corridor Care” on patients and healthcare professionals in Welsh hospitals. Based on raw, unedited testimonies from nursing staff, the report unveils a healthcare crisis described as unsafe, undignified, and unacceptable.

What is Corridor Care?
Corridor Care refers to the practice of treating patients in hallways, chairs, or other inappropriate spaces due to overcrowded facilities and limited resources. This has become a daily reality for many frontline healthcare workers in Wales, forcing them to deliver care in environments that compromise safety, dignity, and quality.

Unsafe and Undignified: Nurses Speak Out
A nurse in Wales revealed the grim reality:
“It’s happening daily. Patients are stripped of their dignity, shoved into places to die, and families can’t even grieve because bed management needs the trolley for another patient. Nurses can’t do their jobs properly with so many patients per nurse.”

Another nurse highlighted the dangers of working in corridors:
“There is no privacy for patients, no access to essential equipment like oxygen or resuscitation tools, and no call bells to ensure safety. It’s heartbreaking to witness the lack of dignity and the compromised care patients receive.”

The report details the emotional toll on nursing staff, with many expressing feelings of guilt and helplessness. One respondent shared:
“It feels like you can’t give any of your patients the full care they need and deserve. It’s undignified, there’s no privacy, and sometimes patients are put there without even a proper handover. It makes me really sad to be a nurse in these times.”

Examples of Compromised Care Include:

• Lack of privacy for intimate examinations and conversations.
• Inability to thoroughly monitor and assess patients.
• Increased risk of falls and medical emergencies due to overcrowding.
• Low morale among staff, leading to burnout and reduced effectiveness.

Call for Immediate Action
Helen Whyley, Executive Director of RCN Wales, emphasised the urgent need for change:
“Every patient deserves privacy, dignity, and quality care. Corridor Care is a symptom of a system under immense pressure. It’s time to invest in our NHS, support our healthcare staff, and prioritise the well-being of patients.”

The RCN is calling on the Welsh Government and NHS leaders to take immediate steps to end Corridor Care. The report stresses the need for increased resources, expanded facilities, and better workforce planning to ensure patients are treated in appropriate and dignified settings.

The situation is unsustainable, posing significant risks to patient safety and staff well-being. Without urgent action, the devastating impacts of Corridor Care will continue to undermine the healthcare system in Wales.

THE NUMBER of children waiting for an autism or ADHD assessment in Wales could nearly triple to 61,000 over the next two years, a committee heard.

Sarah Murphy, Wales’ mental health minister, told the Senedd’s children’s committee that 20,770 children were waiting for a neurodevelopmental assessment in September 2024.

She said: “The assessment we’ve got from the NHS Executive is that we’re going to see, by March 2027, between 41,000 to 61,000 people waiting for these assessments.”

By comparison, according to freedom of information (FoI) requests, around 4,100 children were awaiting an ADHD or autism assessment in September 2021.

Giving evidence on January 9, Ms Murphy, who is responsible for neurodevelopmental conditions, learning disability, and dementia, pointed to an extra £3m for health boards.

Ms Murphy said: “It will benefit the children and young people who have been waiting the longest and the money then is dependent on the delivery.”

Quizzed by Vaughan Gething, the former First Minister who first brought her into government in May, she suggested the surge in demand was down to increasing awareness.

She added: “That assessment means a lot to children, young people and their families. I was speaking to the National Autistic Society yesterday and they said ‘we’ve raised so much awareness but now we need to ride that wave towards understanding and acceptance’.”

The Conservatives’ Joel James was alarmed to hear waiting lists could almost triple in two years, asking how ministers will intervene to ensure sustainable services.

Ms Murphy replied: “We’ve done a national accelerated design event which was really good. It was over a couple of days: it brought together … everybody who has a part to play in this.

“Because we all recognise that this cannot continue – we have to change.”

Asked whether health boards could expect more funding to drive down waiting lists in future, she said: “No. To be very clear, the £3m is one-off funding.”

Ms Murphy explained health boards are bringing in additional capacity from the private sector in an effort to meet demand but cautioned that this is unsustainable.

The Welsh Government has a target of 80% of children and young people receiving an assessment in 26 weeks, twice as long as the 13 weeks recommended by NICE guidelines.

Yet, while data on waiting times is not routinely published unlike in England, it is thought the 80% target has not been met Wales-wide since it was introduced nearly a decade ago.

Welsh ministers have no corresponding target for adult assessments.

Sixty-seven per cent of children waited at least 26 weeks and 45% waited for more than a year in June 2023, according to the response to another FoI request.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg and Betsi Cadwaladr university health boards currently warn of waiting lists of two and three years, respectively.

Albert Heaney, the chief social care officer for Wales, said health boards are confident an extra 2,000 assessments will be delivered by the end of March.

He said: “Importantly, the money is on condition that they are delivered. It’s coming the other way around on this occasion … it’s not money that’s given out, the money is on delivery.”

Mr Heaney added: “I’m really pleased that there’s a lot of co-production, there’s lived experience, there’s a real energy around this because I think there’s recognition … that it can’t just be about focusing on assessment.”