Comment from the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, Mark Drakeford AM, on the Welsh Government’s response to the Committee’s report on wheelchair services in Wales.

26 October 2012

I welcome the Government’s response to our follow-up inquiry and am pleased that the Minister has accepted our recommendations.

Although a great deal has been achieved by the service in Wales over the last two years, this work has not always been as clearly communicated to the outside world as it deserved.

We look forward to seeing the National Service Specification as soon as possible and hope that this will be implemented quickly and communicated clearly.

We are particularly pleased that the Minister intends to establish a Task and Finish Group to consider options for delivering a service that is able to address the broader social and lifestyle requirements of users.

While we note that deadline of autumn 2012 cited by the Partnership Board is not deemed realistic by the Minister, we continue to believe that there is an urgency for this work to be completed.

Wheelchair services in Wales: follow-up inquiry