Wales news round up December 2024
£10m additional funding has been made available to support community-based reablement services as part of a £120m package for local government this winter. £2.5m has also been made available following the Welsh Government's decision not to increase the weekly charge for people using homecare services.
The Welsh Government is reminding people that there is still time to get vaccinations, as we reach the peak season for winter viruses. Social care workers are eligible for COVID-19 and flu vaccinations to help them stay well at work.
8 local authorities in Wales have so far joined the World Health Organisations Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities.
The AI and Digital Regulations Service for health and social care have developed a resource to help people developing or adopting AI in health and social care settings to comply with regulations. You can find out more here.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has provided an update on Palliative and End of Life Care. Progress has been made on hospice funding and clinical nurse specialists. DNACPR resources have been strengthened. A national service specification for palliative and end of life care is being developed.
As part of Winter Planning, the Welsh Government have issued a circular on a Winter Respiratory Framework. Advice for social care in relation to acute respiratory infections is still as follows: Advice on respiratory viruses including COVID-19 for staff in health, social care and special schools | GOV.WALES
Alongside guidance in England, the Welsh Government have been developing contingency plans for Clade 1 mpox. Public health Wales have also developed advice for Health Professionals.
The Public Service Ombudsman found that only 2.8% of unpaid carers were having their needs assessed by local authorities in a study of 4 local authorities in Wales.
Social Care Wales will be holding a wellbeing week from 20 January 2025 offering a range of online events to support people working in social care. Find out more.
Care Inspectorate Wales are changing their registration system, which may mean that they ask for more information upfront. Find out more.
Care Inspectorate Wales have also updated their online care directory. This will now enable people to see service ratings (when published) and allow real time updates as well as better search functionality and ways for people to provide feedback on services. Have you seen our new care service directory yet? | Care Inspectorate Wales