Older People's Commissioner for Wales

Statement in response to Ockenden Review of Governance Arrangements relating to Tawel Fan Ward and Older People’s Mental Health at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

13.7.18

“Today’s report makes clear that there were serious failings across a wide range of areas – including safeguarding, communication, staff levels, staff training and performance management – and that board members took insufficient action to address these, something that placed vulnerable older patients in north Wales at risk...

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Statement on Welsh Government response to Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s report and recommendations on the use of antipsychotic medication in care homes

11.7.18

I welcome the fact that the Welsh Government has, with one exception, accepted or accepted in principle the Committee’s recommendations. This demonstrates a recognition that the issues highlighted in the Committee’s report, which reflect concerns identified by the Commissioner’s 2014 Care Home Review, must be addressed.

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Deputy Commissioner responds to publication of Professor Gerald Holtham’s report on Paying for Social Care

28.6.18

"I welcome the fact that the Welsh Government is exploring possible ways in which the much-needed money to pay for social care could be raised and I welcome Professor Holtham’s report as an important part of this debate."

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Response to publication of ‘A Healthier Wales’

11.6.18

I welcome today’s publication of ‘A Healthier Wales’, which sets out how the Welsh Government aims to transform the delivery of health and social care in Wales to ensure that services will be able to meet the changing needs of our population. Many of the proposals within the document reflect calls made by the Commissioner about how health and social care needs to change for older people, and I particularly welcome the fact that the document explicitly states that older people across Wales will be ‘valued, supported to live independently and treated with dignity and respect...

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Heléna Herklots announced as new Older People’s Commissioner for Wales

05.6.18

We welcome the announcement that Heléna Herklots will be the next Older People’s Commissioner for Wales. Having spent her career working tirelessly to improve the lives of older people and carers across the UK, Heléna brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience, along with a fresh perspective on how the issues that affect the lives of older people in Wales can and should be addressed.

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Commissioner’s response to Committee report on the use of antipsychotic medication in care homes

17.5.18

I strongly welcome the publication today of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s report on the use of antipsychotic medication in care homes, an issue that I highlighted as part of my Review into the quality of life and care of older people living in care homes in Wales.

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Driving Change for Older People: Impact and Reach 2012-2018

16.5.18

I often find it hard to believe that I took up post as Older People’s Commissioner for Wales six years ago, in June 2012. The years have simply flown by and I have been proud to stand up and speak out on behalf of older people across Wales as their independent voice and champion. During the past six years, I have met and spoken with thousands of older people across Wales, who have generously shared so much with me about their lives, their experiences, and their hopes and wishes for the future. The voices of older people in all of their diversity have guided and shaped the wide range of work I have undertaken as Commissioner during the past six years, which is set out in this Legacy Report, which is being published alongside my annual Impact and Reach Report.

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Impact and Reach Report 2017-18

16.5.18

Since I took up post as Commissioner in 2012, I have met and spoken with thousands of older people who have generously shared so much with me – about their lives, their experiences, their hopes and wishes for the future. This year, as in previous years, these voices and experiences have continued to guide and shape my work as Commissioner and have been a constant and important reminder of why it’s just so important that we get things right for older people.

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Commissioner strongly welcomes appointment of Minister for Older People

16.5.18

The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales has strongly welcomed the announcement from the First Minister that Wales will have a Minister for Older People for the first time in 15 years, something that will raise the profile of older people’s issues significantly within the Welsh Government.

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Older Peoples Commissioner: Action needed to ensure that older people’s voices are heard

11.5.18

A new report published today by the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales has found that older people across Wales are often unable to access advocacy services, which play a vital role in helping people to make their voices heard and ensuring that their rights are upheld.

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