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Plaid Cymru plan to scrap local health boards Plaid Cymru plan to scrap local health boards
(about 3 hours later)
Wales' health boards would be scrapped and major hospitals placed under one body, in new Plaid Cymru plans.Wales' health boards would be scrapped and major hospitals placed under one body, in new Plaid Cymru plans.
The proposals are expected to be central to the party's campaign to win power in the 2016 assembly election.The proposals are expected to be central to the party's campaign to win power in the 2016 assembly election.
Local councils would take charge of community services, such as GPs' surgeries, district nurses and mental health, under the plans.Local councils would take charge of community services, such as GPs' surgeries, district nurses and mental health, under the plans.
Welsh ministers said it would "break up the NHS" with "years of chaotic, confusing and costly reorganisation".
Plaid Cymru said delays to treatment would be reduced by integrating much of the health and social care system.Plaid Cymru said delays to treatment would be reduced by integrating much of the health and social care system.
Plaid's health spokeswoman Elin Jones will give details in a speech in Cardiff on Thursday of what she is calling the "biggest change to the way care is delivered since the advent of the NHS in 1948".Plaid's health spokeswoman Elin Jones will give details in a speech in Cardiff on Thursday of what she is calling the "biggest change to the way care is delivered since the advent of the NHS in 1948".
She added: "Navigating the complexities of the health and social care system in its current form is confusing and time-consuming for patients, many of whom are in a vulnerable state.She added: "Navigating the complexities of the health and social care system in its current form is confusing and time-consuming for patients, many of whom are in a vulnerable state.
"Anyone who has waited for their social care package to be implemented, or who has a family member who has needed to move from health to social care services, will know that there are often long delays whilst they wait for bureaucratic decisions to take place.""Anyone who has waited for their social care package to be implemented, or who has a family member who has needed to move from health to social care services, will know that there are often long delays whilst they wait for bureaucratic decisions to take place."
Ms Jones is also expected to set out plans to address what she called the "fundamental unfairness" of the cost of social care.Ms Jones is also expected to set out plans to address what she called the "fundamental unfairness" of the cost of social care.
"If you are diagnosed with cancer then you are likely to be treated for free by the NHS; if you get a diagnosis of dementia your care needs will be met by social care and you will be means tested and possibly charged," she said."If you are diagnosed with cancer then you are likely to be treated for free by the NHS; if you get a diagnosis of dementia your care needs will be met by social care and you will be means tested and possibly charged," she said.
The last re-organisation of the Welsh NHS was in 2009 when 22 local health boards and seven trusts were replaced by the seven current health boards.The last re-organisation of the Welsh NHS was in 2009 when 22 local health boards and seven trusts were replaced by the seven current health boards.
Under Plaid's proposals, which the party said could take three years to bring in, responsibility for planning and running acute and specialist hospitals would be carried out by one national hospital board.Under Plaid's proposals, which the party said could take three years to bring in, responsibility for planning and running acute and specialist hospitals would be carried out by one national hospital board.
Local authorities would manage community services, but the party said some larger authorities could devolve responsibility to large groups of GPs.Local authorities would manage community services, but the party said some larger authorities could devolve responsibility to large groups of GPs.
An estimate of the costs of some of the changes will be released on Thursday, with full budget proposals announced closer to the election.An estimate of the costs of some of the changes will be released on Thursday, with full budget proposals announced closer to the election.
The plans were ridiculed by the Welsh Labour government as "the end of the NHS as we know it",
A spokesman for Health Minister Mark Drakeford said: "Plaid is proposing little more than the break up of the NHS and condemning the health service to years of chaotic, confusing and a hugely costly reorganisation with these nonsensical plans to give local politicians direct control of planning community services, including GP care and mental healthcare, at a time when money should be invested in frontline services."
Analysis by Nick Servini, BBC Wales political editorAnalysis by Nick Servini, BBC Wales political editor
Plaid believe this proposal will achieve something that has achieved Holy Grail status whenever reform of the NHS is discussed; the integration of health and social care.Plaid believe this proposal will achieve something that has achieved Holy Grail status whenever reform of the NHS is discussed; the integration of health and social care.
The inevitable criticism will be that major re-organisation is the last thing the NHS needs at a time when it is already under severe pressure.The inevitable criticism will be that major re-organisation is the last thing the NHS needs at a time when it is already under severe pressure.
And it would put major new levels of responsibility and power into the hands of councillors at a time when re-organisation of local government is on the agenda as well.And it would put major new levels of responsibility and power into the hands of councillors at a time when re-organisation of local government is on the agenda as well.
The party acknowledges major re-structuring like this will be costly, but insists it can be offset by savings that could arise from the creation of a more seamless service.The party acknowledges major re-structuring like this will be costly, but insists it can be offset by savings that could arise from the creation of a more seamless service.
All eyes will now be on the potential cost of any proposals to pay for social care, which is clearly what the party would like to do.All eyes will now be on the potential cost of any proposals to pay for social care, which is clearly what the party would like to do.