RCN Wales welcomes NHS accountability move by Welsh Government
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Wales has welcomed a Welsh Government move to increase public accountability in the NHS, as Health Secretary Jeremy Miles announced a series of live-streamed meetings with health boards across Wales.
The public sessions, which begin this week, will focus on waiting times, finances and service quality, and are part of a wider drive to improve transparency in the health service.
Mr Miles said: “I’ve organised these meetings as I want to improve accountability and transparency in the NHS. I want people to have confidence in the standards of healthcare and the performance of health organisations where they live.”
The first meeting will take place on Thursday 23 October with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. Further sessions are planned for all health boards and national NHS bodies before March 2026.
The Cabinet Secretary confirmed that more NHS performance data is being published than ever before, including quarterly reports on waiting times, ambulance handovers and complaints handling.
He said: “If we’re going to improve the NHS in Wales, we need to ensure organisations are open and honest, use data to improve their performance and make this publicly available, and listen to people who use their services and can learn from their mistakes.”
Helen Whyley, Executive Director of RCN Wales, said the move was a positive step but urged the government to go further in revealing the realities of frontline care.
“The Royal College of Nursing Wales welcomes the Welsh government’s commitment to greater transparency and public accountability across the NHS in Wales,” she said.
“Creating opportunities for the public to observe discussions between the Cabinet Secretary for Health and NHS organisations is a positive step towards building trust and ensuring that health boards are held to account for the quality, safety and accessibility of the care they provide.”
Ms Whyley added that openness should include publishing data on “care in a chair”, corridor care and other situations where patients receive treatment in inappropriate settings.
“If the Welsh government wants to foster a culture of openness and transparency across the NHS, it must lead by example,” she said. “Without that information, the full picture of what staff and patients are experiencing under pressure remains incomplete.”
She added: “We urge the Welsh government to ensure that visibility extends to all areas of care, including those that demonstrate the strain on the system. Only by confronting these realities can we create the conditions for real improvement in patient care and staff wellbeing. We look forward to observing these meetings to support meaningful improvements.”
The Welsh Government said the new meetings will form an annual cycle, allowing each health organisation to be publicly held to account for performance against key priorities.
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