The new ground-breaking overview of the care and support needs of people across Wales gives an insight into the lives of people who may need care and support to help them lead the best lives they can.

In 2016, the Welsh Government changed the law that governs the way social services help people to lead fulfilled lives and achieve wellbeing, and protect people from abuse and neglect.

Under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act, health boards and local authorities are required to jointly assess the care and support needs of people in their area. These population assessments also state what is available to meet people’s needs and what else needs to be done to prevent those needs from increasing or from arising in the first place. They look at a wide range of people and communities, from children and young people through to older age.

The National Population Assessment Report, which was commissioned by the Welsh Government and produced by Social Care Wales, brings together the main findings of the first population assessment reports published by the regional partnership boards earlier this year. 

It found: 

• People living in Wales (26%) are more likely to have a limiting long-standing illness or disability than other regions of Great Britain
• 1 in 4 adults experience mental health problems in their lifetime
• 1 in 10 children have a diagnosable mental health problem
• 1 in 5 young people in Wales report low life satisfaction
• 17% of adults report feeling lonely
• Nearly half of adults in Wales experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), while 41% of adults in Wales who suffered four or more ACEs are now living with low mental well-being
• An estimated 1 in 4 people in a general hospital ward have dementia
• 75% of carers in Wales are concerned about the impact of caring on their health over the next year
• 1 in 3 people over 80 will have sight or hearing loss
• 9 in 10 prisoners have a diagnosable mental health and/or substance misuse problem.

Minister for Children and Social Care, Huw Irranca-Davies said:

“For the very first time, we now have an extremely useful overview of the care and support needs across Wales. 

“Based on what people have said, as well as what the research and data tells us, the report gives us significant insight into the lives of people who may need care and support to help them lead the best lives they can.  

“The implementation of the Social Services and Well-being Act is revolutionising the way care is delivered throughout Wales. Together with the more detailed regional population assessments, this national report will help the NHS, social services and other partners to shape policy and service delivery to provide people with the care and support they need, when they need it.”

The report details the achievements made against the End of Life Care Delivery Plan and the Welsh Government’s continued commitment to improving the services for those who need it in Wales. 

Healthcare professionals have received training on guidance to implement the care decisions of patients, and utilising advance care plans to support people to die in their preferred place. This has helped to increase of the number of people registered on the palliative care register, which has increased by 69% since 2011-12.

As a result, more people are able to die in the place of their choice – either at home, or in a care home, reducing the number of people who have died in hospital from 60% to 55% since 2010.

This has resulted in a range of associated benefits to those needing palliative care, including fewer inappropriate and unwanted medical treatments and hospital admission in the last weeks, days and hours of life, and allowing patients to remain in a familiar environment and be close to family and friends.

Palliative care services for children and young people have also improved, with access to care available 24/7 following improvements made to the workforce available. An interim arrangement is now in place, meaning that clinicians across Wales have access to out of hours specialist paediatric palliative medicine advice from three specialist consultants.

The Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething said;

“As a result of advances in modern medicine, more people are living longer with terminal illnesses. It is therefore vital that healthcare professionals continue to discuss patients’ and their loved ones’ needs. This will ensure effective systems are in place to allow more people to receive care and to die in their preferred place.

“The quality of care provided to a dying patient has a lasting effect on families and carers. I’m proud that this report highlights the work healthcare professionals are doing in Wales to help people in their final months, weeks or days.”

Director of Policy at Marie Curie, Simon Jones said;

“The continued focus on improving and investing in the care and support people in Wales get at the end of their lives is something that we should all be rightly proud of. Wales remains the only nation in the United Kingdom with a plan which focusses on delivery of services and then reports on progress against that plan.

“We welcomed the refresh of the delivery plan earlier this year that included an emphasis on ensuring that everyone has access to quality care regardless of who they are or where they live.”

The strength of the bid, coupled with the numerous opportunities during 2018’s Year of the Sea means this is a time of real opportunity for Swansea. The Minister was keen to make clear his commitment to continuing to work with partners from across the region to ensure the energy, confidence and passion which was so evident in the run up to the 2021 decision continues and bears fruit.

Lord Elis-Thomas said:

“From museums and galleries to beaches and foods, I’ve been fortunate enough today to sample a small cross section of the world class, diverse offering Swansea has to offer visitors from all over the world.

“After meeting business owners, councillors and members of the extremely talented Swansea 2021 bid team, I’m clearer than ever that the region has all the ingredients to be very optimistic about the coming years, both in further enhancing its unique offering and driving up visitor numbers. I’ve been very encouraged by initial talks today, ascertaining what their culture and tourism priorities are for the city.

“It is testament not only to the bid team but to the city as a whole that the drive, confidence and passion remains plain to see. This is a city ready to capitalise on the opportunities of the future and that is something I’m determined to support in any way I can.

“One such opportunity will be during next year’s Year of the Sea, the third of our hugely successful themed year approach to promoting tourism in Wales. With such a unique coastal offering, internationally recognised beaches and landscapes and an increasingly diverse food and drink offering, there is much reason for optimism for the Swansea region during 2018 and beyond.”

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: 

“Despite being pipped at the post to the UK City of Culture 2021 title, we are confident that we had a credible bid, with feedback from the judges confirming the quality and ability of all the shortlisted cities to deliver an outstanding year of culture.

“We are primed to deliver a truly transformational vision and programme for Wales to demonstrate how culture is a key means for lifting pride, ambition, profile and reputation for inward investment; galvanising the support of businesses and cross-sector working to tackle poverty, while increasing cohesion, connectivity and wellbeing.  

“We always had a plan if we missed out on the UK City of Culture 2021 title, so the Minister’s visit has given the team the opportunity to discuss the next steps for culture in Swansea and Wales as we continue to be a city that celebrates and welcomes talent.

“Major projects like the digital indoor arena forming part of the Swansea Central development will also still be going ahead, with construction due to start late next year, and the Year of the Sea tourism theme in 2018 gives a major opportunity to further boost a thriving tourism industry that’s already worth more than £400 million a year to Swansea Bay’s economy.”

Local authorities will receive an additional £20m in 2018-19 and £40m in 2019-20 to support local services. Further details will be published in the final local government settlement, which will be published tomorrow (Wednesday December 20).

And an extra £50m a year will be allocated to the Welsh NHS in 2018-19 and 2019-20 to support the ongoing transformation of services, primary care and the Integrated Care Fund.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said: 

“The final Budget marks a significant milestone in Wales’ devolution journey as, for the first time, Wales becomes responsible for raising a proportion of its own revenue from 2 new devolved taxes to spend on public services.

“I am pleased to be able to provide additional funding for public services – areas we know need extra support. This funding will help to ease some of the pressures on frontline public services, which have been struggling to cope as a result of the successive cuts to our budget, which we have experienced since 2010-11 thanks to the UK government’s programme of austerity.”

The final Budget includes revenue funding allocations made as a result of funding consequentials received from the UK Budget. Due to the short timeframe between the UK government’s Autumn Budget and the publication of the Welsh Government’s final Budget, the Finance Secretary will announce early decisions about additional capital funding allocations in the spring.

He has previously announced a new higher starting threshold of £180,000 for the main land transaction tax residential rate, which will mean tens of thousands of homebuyers, including first-time buyers, will be exempt from paying the property tax when buying a home from April 1, 2018.

Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services, Alun Davies, said, 

“I am pleased we have been able to provide this additional boost to support key public services in Wales. We have listened to the concerns raised by many of our councils, and we have acted to address some of the pressures that exist in important areas such as youth homelessness.”

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething said, 

“The additional investment in the health and social services budget now gives me a real opportunity to provide targeted funding to drive forward change in health services through integration, a greater focus on primary care, and strategic change in hospital-based services.”

Local authorities will receive an additional £20m in 2018-19 and £40m in 2019-20 to support local services. Further details will be published in the final local government settlement, which will be published tomorrow (Wednesday December 20).

And an extra £50m a year will be allocated to the Welsh NHS in 2018-19 and 2019-20 to support the ongoing transformation of services, primary care and the Integrated Care Fund.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said: 

“The final Budget marks a significant milestone in Wales’ devolution journey as, for the first time, Wales becomes responsible for raising a proportion of its own revenue from 2 new devolved taxes to spend on public services.

“I am pleased to be able to provide additional funding for public services – areas we know need extra support. This funding will help to ease some of the pressures on frontline public services, which have been struggling to cope as a result of the successive cuts to our budget, which we have experienced since 2010-11 thanks to the UK government’s programme of austerity.”

The final Budget includes revenue funding allocations made as a result of funding consequentials received from the UK Budget. Due to the short timeframe between the UK government’s Autumn Budget and the publication of the Welsh Government’s final Budget, the Finance Secretary will announce early decisions about additional capital funding allocations in the spring.

He has previously announced a new higher starting threshold of £180,000 for the main land transaction tax residential rate, which will mean tens of thousands of homebuyers, including first-time buyers, will be exempt from paying the property tax when buying a home from April 1, 2018.

Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services, Alun Davies, said, 

“I am pleased we have been able to provide this additional boost to support key public services in Wales. We have listened to the concerns raised by many of our councils, and we have acted to address some of the pressures that exist in important areas such as youth homelessness.”

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething said, 

“The additional investment in the health and social services budget now gives me a real opportunity to provide targeted funding to drive forward change in health services through integration, a greater focus on primary care, and strategic change in hospital-based services.”