Posted: Wed 24th Feb 2016

Changes to health and social care in Wales – you need to know

news.wales / newyddion.cymru
This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Feb 24th, 2016

Residents in North Wales are being reminded of a major change to the way health and social care is provided across Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The introduction of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, which comes into effect on April 6, 2016, represents a shift in focus for health and social care providers across the country. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In the face of challenges such as demographic changes, a growing demand for services and further cuts to budgets, the Act calls for smarter, more innovative approaches to delivering cost effective care of the highest possible standards. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Programme for Government pledges that “Better social services will be delivered by ensuring citizens have a much stronger voice and greater control over the services they receive. We will make the way that services are delivered simpler, and by working collaboratively with others we will focus on improving the well-being of all our citizens” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Now all six councils across North Wales and the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are backing a national marketing campaign to raise the profile of the changes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jenny Williams, Strategic Director of Social Care and Education at Conwy Council, speaking on behalf of the partner agencies in North Wales, said: “The Act is very much a new way of working. It aims to make residents an equal partner in their care, with access available to advice and information. Any assessments will clearly focus on the individual and what matters to them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is really important for those who currently use health and social care services, their networks, carers and those potentially needing care that changes are on the way. They need to understand how their care and support will be affected. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​



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