SENEDD Members called for annual health checks for firefighters in Wales, with a study showing instances of cancer are up to 323% higher than the general population.

Luke Fletcher, who has been campaigning on the issue over the past two years, led a debate in the Senedd on a cross-party motion calling for urgent action.

“The dangers our firefighters face do not end once the flames are out,” said Mr Fletcher.

“Fire creates a cocktail of toxic chemicals that are known to increase the risk of cancers and other life-threatening illnesses.”

The Plaid Cymru politician pointed to research commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union, showing firefighters aged 35 to 39 faced an age-specific cancer rate up to 323% higher.

Mr Fletcher added: “Firefighters serving 15 years or more were almost twice as likely to develop cancer than those who served less time.”

Calling for urgent reform to safeguard firefighters’ health, he said: “Across the world, countries like the US, Canada and Australia have recognised the link between exposure to toxic effluents and the increased incidence of cancer among firefighters.

“Legislation in these countries ensures firefighters not only receive workplace compensation when illness strikes but also have access to routine medical monitoring, designed to catch illnesses early. Yet here in Wales, as across the UK, little such support exists.”

Mr Fletcher criticised Welsh ministers for not committing to a specific health monitoring programme: “Every delay now carries consequences and we just need to get on with it.

“Further delays simply translate into more deaths due to cancer. The evidence is there, the stories are there – and the risk is very real.”

He concluded: “Quite simply, it is the right thing to do, to do right by our fire service people and the families who have lost loved ones because of this occupational risk.”

Altaf Hussain, a surgeon-turned-Senedd Member, said: “Firefighters regularly put their health on the line to deal with threats to ours and we regularly let them down.”

The Conservative added: “We, at the very least, owe this service a commitment to do everything to minimise and mitigate the risk of the job.

“That includes ensuring they are protected from toxins as well as monitored for exposure. This is not an issue that should be left to individual fire and rescue authorities.”

Rhys ab Owen, who sits as an independent, said: “The issues raised in this report cannot be kicked down the road for the next government to resolve. The risk, the danger and the responsibility sit firmly at the government’s door – and action must be taken.”

Responding to the May 14 debate for the Welsh Government, Jayne Bryant said ministers support the Fire Brigades Union campaign to reduce the risk of cancers firefighters face.

The housing and local government secretary told the Senedd all three fire and rescue services in Wales provide regular fitness and medical checks.

But Ms Bryant, whose responsibilities include fire services, stated the UK National Screening Committee does not recommend targeted screening programmes based on occupation.

She said Isabel Oliver, who was appointed the chief medical officer for Wales In January, will work with experts and relevant UK bodies to consider the evidence

“I’d like to reassure the Senedd that we remain fully committed to addressing these risks as effectively as possible,” she said. “We will continue to work in social partnership with employers and unions to do so.”

Senedd Members voted 30-0 in favour of the motion, with 14 Labour members and the Conservatives’ Tom Giffard abstaining.

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.