Plaid critical of 'painfully slow' progress on national care service

Plaid Cymru has accused the Welsh Government of allowing plans for a national care service to become “painfully slow” and “drag on without direction”.

- CHRIS HAINES

Mabon ap Gwynfor bemoaned progress on an ambition to create a national care service free at the point of need, which would aim to ensure parity between health and care.

The shadow health secretary said: “Under this government, progress has been painfully slow. What started as a bold vision has been allowed to drag on without direction.

“Because any plan, no matter how worthy, is not fit for purpose without the political will to drive it forward. We need urgent action. We need clarity on ambition.

“We need a map to set out how the national care service will bring together services, funding and accountability to deliver and ensure that people and their families are not let down.”

Plans to explore a national care service for Wales were agreed as part of the cooperation agreement between Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government which collapsed in 2024.

During a debate in the Senedd, Mr ap Gwynfor warned social care had become a “forgotten pillar” of the health system.

He told the Senedd: “The moral test of any government is how it treats those who give care and those who need it. It's time to pass that test.