Concise Minutes - Health and Social Care Committee


Meeting Venue:

 

Meeting date: 4 March 2026

Meeting time: 09.30 - 11.33
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/15981


Hybrid

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Attendance

Category

Names

Members of the Senedd:

Peter Fox MS (Chair)

Mabon ap Gwynfor MS

James Evans MS

John Griffiths MS

Lesley Griffiths MS

Witnesses:

Katija Dew, Welsh Government’s preferred candidate for the role of Chair of Social Care Wales

Committee Staff:

Sarah Beasley (Clerk)

Claire Morris (Second Clerk)

Karen Williams (Deputy Clerk)

Rebekah James (Researcher)

 

<AI1>

1       Introductions, apologies, substitutions, and declarations of interest

1.1        The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting.

1.2        Apologies were received from Joyce Watson MS.

1.3        John Griffiths MS declared that the candidate is known to him in a personal and professional capacity.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2       Pre-appointment hearing for the role of Chair of Social Care Wales: evidence session with the Welsh Government's preferred candidate

2.1 The Committee heard evidence from Katija Dew, the Welsh Government's preferred candidate for the role of Chair of Social Care Wales.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3       Papers to note

</AI3>

<AI4>

3.1   Letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care re Welsh Government 2026-27 draft budget

3.1.1 The Committee noted the letter.

</AI4>

<AI5>

3.2   Response from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care re Welsh Government 2026-27 draft budget

3.2.1 The Committee noted the response.

</AI5>

<AI6>

3.3   Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Committee to the Petitions Committee re: P-06-1456 - Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer (EMRTS) services in North Wales

3.3.1 The Committee noted the letter.

</AI6>

<AI7>

3.4   Letter from the Auditor General for Wales re Challenges and opportunities for Welsh public services

3.4.1 The Committee noted the letter.

</AI7>

<AI8>

3.5   Letter to the Minister for Children & Social Care re the inquiry into improving access to support for unpaid carers

3.5.1 The Committee noted the letter.

</AI8>

<AI9>

3.6   Response from the Minister for Children & Social Care re the inquiry into improving access to support for unpaid carers

3.6.1 The Committee noted the response.

</AI9>

<AI10>

4       Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of today’s meeting and for the meeting on 11 March 2026, for consideration of the draft report on improving access to support for unpaid carers and the draft report on the future of general practice in Wales

4.1 The Committee agreed the motion.

</AI10>

<AI11>

5       Pre-appointment hearing: consideration of evidence and draft report

5.1 The Committee reviewed and discussed the evidence received.

5.2 The Committee resolved to agree the report via email, prior to publication on Tuesday 10 March 2026.

</AI11>

<AI12>

6       Inquiry into the future of general practice in Wales: consideration of draft report

6.1 The Committee reviewed key issues and agreed recommendations to be included in the draft report.

6.2 The Committee resolved to agree amendments by email, in preparation for final review in the next meeting.

</AI12>

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