Responding to the Welsh Government Budget Announcement today, Helen Whyley, Executive Director of Royal College of Nursing Wales, said:
“We welcome the Welsh Government’s commitment to allocate significant additional funding to health care, particularly considering the critical challenges facing the NHS in Wales. The announced £437m for daily spending and £175m for maintenance are steps in the right direction, but this funding must be effectively directed to address the urgent issues of record numbers of patients being treated in the wrong place like a corridor, and workforce shortages. The government needs to be careful to address the systemic issues and not just focus on the waiting lists.”
“Nurses and health care workers have been under immense strain, and while this budget offers potential relief, meaningful change will require targeted investment in fair pay, career progression and improved working conditions. It is essential that these resources are used to support the delivery of safe, high-quality care and that the voices of nursing professionals are central to decisions on how the funds are allocated.”
“We urge the Welsh Government to ensure transparency in its spending and to engage with the nursing workforce to maximise the benefits of this funding for patients and staff alike. Our members remain committed to advocating for the changes needed to restore a sustainable health care system in Wales.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK including around 30,500 members in Wales. The RCN promotes the interests of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape health care policy.
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