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1. Wales 1st Commissioner for Older People start work

Ruth Marks began work as the Commissioner for Older People in Wales.  The commissioner - believed to be the first of its kind in the World - will be a voice for older people in the same way that the Children's Commissioner has been a champion for children and young people in Wales.

2. Healthcare Inspectorate Wales - 3rd Annual Report

The report outlines another year of delivering a substantial and wide ranging programme of work that they say is central to their role of providing assurance and supporting improvement in the quality and safety of healthcare services in Wales

3. Health Minister accepts findings of independent review of Agenda for Change

Health Minister Edwina Hart has accepted the recommendations of an independent review  of the implementation of Agenda for Change pay system.  Agenda for Change was introduced in 2004 in an effort to improve the pay and conditions for health professionals from nurses to physiotherapists and administrative support staff.

4. NHS Wales launch priorities poster

Patients in Wales will be able to see clearly what the Welsh Assembly Government's main priorities are for the NHS over the coming year.  A poster will be distributed to healthcare settings such as hospitals, GPs surgeries, dentists, opticians, pharmacies and other public buildings like local libraries and social services departments to help inform patients of what the NHS will focus on in 2008-09.

5. Assembly launch inquiry into presumed consent

The Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee is carrying out an inquiry into the potential for making changes to the way body organs are donated in Wales. The Committee is looking at whether a system of Presumed Consent can or should be introduced in Wales.  Organ donation can be a sensitive subject, and the Committee wants to find out the views of as many people in Wales as possible.

6. Health Committee calls for urgent action to improve workforce planning

The Assembly’s Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee calls for urgent action from the Welsh Government to improve workforce planning in health and social care.  The Committee has carried out an inquiry into workforce planning found that although the Government recognised the importance of the issue, there is only one trained workforce planner currently employed by the NHS in Wales.

7. 2nd Phase of strategy for older people launched

Deputy Minister for Social Services Gwenda Thomas has launched phase two of the Welsh Assembly Government's Strategy for Older People at the Living Longer/Living Better conference.  The second phase will build on the achievements of the first phase, which has seen the introduction of popular schemes such as free bus travel and free swimming for older people, as well as the appointment of the Commissioner for Older People.

8. Healthcare Inspectorate Wales launch 2008 – 2009 operational plan

Health Inspectorate Wales’ 2008 - 2009 operational plan has now been published. The Plan provides clear information on how HIW will deliver their work commitments during the 2008/09 business year.

9.  Consultation on NHS Restructuring

Health Minister Edwina Hart has announced proposals for restructuring  the NHS in Wales to further reduce bureaucracy, remove the internal market and to improve patient care.

10. Public Service Ombudsman publishes strategic plan 2008/2009 & 2009/2010

Public Services Ombudsman for Wales's Strategic Plan 2008/09 to 2010/11 has been published.  It sets out the aims and objectives for the service for the next three years.