Written Assembly Questions tabled on 3 April 2017 for answer on 10 April 2017
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W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.
(Self-identifying question no. shown in brackets)
Written Questions must be tabled at least five working days before they are to be answered. In practice, Ministers aim to answer within seven/eight days but are not bound to do so. Answers are published in the language in which they are provided, with a translation into English of responses provided in Welsh.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): What plans does the Cabinet Secretary have to develop a major trauma centre in north Wales, as is proposed for south Wales, and will he advise as to the timescales for such a development? (WAQ73319)
Answer recieved on 18 April 2017
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-Being and Sport (Vaughan Gething): Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board already has a well established major trauma service with Stoke-on-Trent Hospital, that meets the local demand of the North Wales population for trauma patients. In North Wales, major trauma patients are referred to Stoke from the three major hospitals – Ysbyty Gwynedd, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Ysbyty Wrexham Maelor – which are trauma units. Depending on the complexity, patients may be admitted to one of the trauma units for stabilisation, prior to onward transfer to the trauma centre in Stoke, or alternatively they may be conveyed directly to Stoke from the scene.
Major trauma centres sit at the heart of trauma networks, operating as centres of excellence providing optimised definitive, multi-specialty hospital care to seriously injured patients with provision of tertiary and specialised level services.
Major trauma is, however, a minor element of emergency department work equating to less than 0.2 per cent of total activity. Emergency departments across the region will continue to treat the vast majority of injuries which do not require highly specialist services or equipment.
For information, the Wales Critical Care and Trauma Network are hosting a North Wales Major Trauma Conference, including patient experience and outcomes for trauma patients at the OpTic Centre, St Asaph Business Park on 12 May 2017.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): Does the Welsh Government have any estimates regarding the number of a) dog breeding or b) pet shop premises operating without a licence? (WAQ73320)
Answer receieved on 18 April 2017
Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): This information is not held centrally.
Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire): How does the Welsh Government plan to deal with the problem of unlicensed dog breeding or unlicensed pet shop premises? (WAQ73321)
Answer receieved on 18 April 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The licencing of premises and the enforcement of the Animal Welfare (Dog Breeding) Regulations 2014 falls to Local Authorities in Wales.
The Welsh Government is working with Local Authorities, as part of the Partnership Delivery Project, and a number of intelligence led surveys have been undertaken across Wales. One of which is a data capture exercise on licensed breeding establishments. The findings of the exercise will form the basis of a review assessing the enforcement of standards currently applied to dog breeders in Wales.
Under The Pet Animals Act 1951 Local Authorities are responsible for issuing pet shop licences. My officials routinely meet with Local Authority representatives and will raise the possibility of unlicensed premises with them.