The new single cancer pathway, will start from the point a patient is suspected of having cancer, rather than when the cancer is confirmed, as is currently the case for some cancer patients.  It is intended that treatment should start no later than 62 days from the point of suspicion.

Implementation of the new single cancer pathway will be supported with a £3m investment  from the Welsh Government from next financial year.

The new pathway will not replace the current Urgent Suspected Cancer / Non Urgent Suspected Cancer pathways at this point in time. However, health boards will be expected to dual report performance against all three pathways from June 2019.

Last November [2017] the Health Secretary announced local health boards would shadow report the new single pathway for cancer alongside the other pathways.

Health Secretary Vaughan Gething said: 

“Cancer has become the single biggest cause of premature death in Wales and the UK.

“It’s highly likely cancer will touch everyone’s life at some point; some will develop the disease themselves, some will watch a friend or loved one battling it – sometimes more than once.

“The NHS in Wales is consistently treating more cancer patients than ever before. We are seeing and treating more patients than ever before. In the last 12 months. 17,033 patients started definitive treatment for cancer, that’s 8.6% (1,347) more than five years ago. And 15,730 patients started treatment within the target times, that’s 8.1% (1,180) more than five years ago.

“However, we can’t get away from the fact we have not met the targets often enough but we must also recognise that around 92% of people with cancer are being treated within target time across both pathways.

“We want to ensure that anyone who experiences cancer in Wales has access to timely and appropriate treatment that will deliver the best possible outcome.

“Proposals for the single cancer pathway have been clinically led and have wide support across the clinical community. Through dual reporting of the single cancer pathway, Wales will be the first UK nation to move towards a single waiting time measure for cancer. It is reflective of our aspiration to support early diagnosis of cancer and ensure fast and effective treatment for all patients. 

“The new way of measuring people’s waits for cancer treatment will improve quality and outcomes for our cancer patients and I am confident that it is the right approach for Wales.”

Andy Glyde, Cancer Research UK’s public affairs manager in Wales, said: 

“Cancer waiting times are a barometer for how the NHS is performing and this new system is welcome as it will give us a clearer picture of what is happening for patients going through a cancer diagnosis.

“The Welsh Government’s commitment to detecting cancer earlier is important. Patients diagnosed at the earliest stages of cancer are more likely to have successful treatment. For the new Single Cancer Pathway to achieve its full potential it has to be used to inform how we improve cancer diagnosis in Wales, including making sure we have the right workforce in place.”

Some of the projects will improve facilities to repair or refurbish unwanted items. A new ‘Green Shed’ in Colwyn Bay will involve the local community in preparing items to be reused. A second ‘reuse centre’ in Rhondda Cynon Taf will open in Treherbert, alongside the existing centre in Llantrisant, which the Minister visited today. A new reuse facility will also open in the Maindee area of Newport. 

In Pembrokeshire, a Zero Waste School pilot project will provide new recycling facilities at 24 schools in the county, to recycle more waste from schools while encouraging the pupils to reduce waste or dispose of it responsibly.  

Funding will also be provided to Denbighshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire and Blaenau Gwent, including new reuse facilities and improvements to waste collection services. 

Hannah Blythyn said:

“One of the best ways to reduce waste is to repair and refurbish items so they can be reused and some of these projects will improve facilities to enable this. We’re also investing in a pilot schools project to reduce waste and instill good habits from a young age. 

“Where materials can’t be re-used, the next best method is to recycle, so we’re also investing in the machinery to better manage recyclable items.

“Wales is first in the UK, second in Europe and third in the world for household recycling, so out track record speaks for itself. The proportion of waste we recycle in Wales has increased dramatically, from 5% in 1999 to 63% last year.

“This range of new projects will not only help reduce waste in the coming years, it should lead to a cultural change in the longer term, helping us achieve our ambition to become a ‘Zero Waste Nation’ by 2050.” 

The eight capital funding projects are:

• £500,000 to Pembrokeshire County Council to support a Zero Waste Schools initiative
• £1,020,000 to Conwy/Denbighshire County Councils to support initiatives by CREST
• £1,175,000 to Newport City Council to support initiatives by Wastesavers
• £900,000 to Denbighshire County Council
• £541,000 to Blaenau Gwent CBC 
• £120,000 to Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC
• £646,375 to Monmouthshire County Council
• £490,000 to Merthyr Tydfil CBC

Earlier this year, the Welsh Government commissioned Children in Wales to identify children and young people’s views on Brexit.

Information was gathered through workshops in primary and secondary schools, youth clubs and forums, alongside online and social media surveys. 

Over 700 children and young people aged between 8 and 21 participated in 39 workshops held across Wales, while young people attended a Young Wales Question Time event held in the Senedd on 24th October 2018.

The study found:

• Key issues for children who took part in primary schools were the future of the environment, their community, the Welsh language and the financial impact of Brexit;
• Secondary school students included were concerned about the environment; opportunities to study and travel abroad, the future of human rights and health and well-being;
• In the youth settings involved, the priority issues were education, the NHS, freedom of movement across Europe and engaging young people in political discussions. Support for farmers was a priority for Young Farmers and young people from North Wales. 

Brexit has prompted young people to take an increased interest in politics, seeking a better understanding and more opportunities to be engaged. Many of the young people that responded felt frustrated at being denied a say in the Brexit referendum and felt that their votes could have made a difference to the outcome of the referendum.

The study concludes that the children and young people who engaged with the work showed a significant awareness of issues in this area and were keen to be involved in discussions on Brexit. 

Minister for Children, Huw Irranca-Davies said:

“In Wales, children and young people have a right to have their say on issues that affect them. Brexit is perhaps the most significant political issue of our time. The outcome of the Brexit process will have a profound impact on the next generation, so it’s only right they have their views known and listened to.

“The message from this important piece of work is very clear. Young people are frustrated they have not been given a say. They’re concerned about their own futures, and the future of the country as a whole. 

“Brexit has prompted young people to take an increased interest in politics, seeking a better understanding and more opportunities to be engaged. The clear message from young people in Wales is that they want to be informed and involved, but they also want to be educated about how decisions are made and how they can use democratic processes to have their voice heard.

“The Welsh Government is firmly committed to ensuring our country’s interests are fully protected as the UK leaves the EU – and that includes the futures of the next generation.” 

Under changes planned for Band B of the programme, the Welsh Government will cover 65% of the capital costs for a new school building or project, with local authorities and colleges covering the remaining 35%.

The Welsh Government will also increase its share of capital funding for facilities for pupils with additional learning needs and those in pupil referral units to 75%, with delivery partners meeting the remaining 25% of the costs.

Previously, the match funding for the capital programme was typically 50-50.

The change in match funding will be introduced for Band B of the programme, which starts in April next year.

Band B will  include additional investment with a capital value of around £500m funded through the new, made-in-Wales, Mutual Investment Model. 

Education Secretary Kirsty Williams said:

“We are all working against a backdrop of austerity but if we can ease the funding pressures on local authorities and colleges, then we will do so.

“This change has the potential to save local authorities and colleges millions of pounds which could be invested elsewhere in our education system.

“I’m not pretending that this is going to solve every issue, but making such a significant change to our flagship school building programme shows we are willing to take a different approach and explore alternative ways of funding.

WLGA Leader, Councillor Debbie Wilcox (Newport), said:

“This is a very welcome announcement from the Welsh Government and will help alleviate some of the pressures faced by our councils.

“WLGA strongly supports the 21st Century Schools and Education Programme. The programme represents the largest investment in our schools and colleges since the 1960s. It is an excellent example of what can be achieved when local government and the Welsh Government work together and has transformed the school estate across the length and breadth of Wales.

“This investment will help take Band B of the programme to a new level and I look forward to seeing the many fantastic school and college buildings that will be delivered as a result of this renewed partnership with the Welsh Government.”

The Welsh Government, partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund, has invested over £4m in the new Enterprise Hubs, which will provide individuals and companies with the space to network, innovate, establish their enterprises and access a range of support services, such as advice on pitching, work shops and business surgeries. Entrepreneurs at the hubs will have access to the breadth of support available from Business Wales as well as from partners including Colleges, Universities, Local authorities and the Development Bank of Wales, providing a well-connected, simple and visible support system for entrepreneurs, as championed by Be The Spark.

The hubs will complement the already established Wrexham Hub and aim to kick start and sustain increased innovation driven entrepreneurial activity in their areas.   

The regional Hubs will be in:

• Wrexham and M-Sparc, Gaerwen with spokes in Conwy Business Centre, Porthmadog, Rhuthin,  Llangefni, Rhyl, Botwnnog and Dolgellau.
• Pryce Jones building, Newtown with spokes in Innovation and Enterprise campus at Aberystwyth University, UWTSD Lampeter and Coleg Ceredigion campuses.
• ICE, Caerphilly with satellites to be confirmed with the Valleys Task Force in Merthyr, Blaenau-Gwent, Bridgend, Torfaen and Rhondda Cynon Taf.
• Yr Egin, Carmarthenshire with spokes in Bridge Innovation Centre Pembrokeshire, The Beacon Llanelli, and Coleg Sir Gar.

Economy Secretary, Ken Skates said:

“My Economic Action Plan is clear that supporting and encouraging entrepreneurship across Wales is absolutely crucial if we are to succeed in growing Wales’ economy.  

“And I expect my decision to deliver these business hubs in North West Wales, Mid Wales, the South West Valleys and the South East Valleys to provide a real boost to our regional economies. 

“Alongside the satellite locations, these five hubs  will ensure that budding entrepreneurs in all parts of Wales can access the space and help they need to get their ideas off the ground, creating at least 700 new enterprises and 1160 new quality jobs in the process.  

“The evidence is clear that by working collaboratively and bringing  academia, industry and local partners closer together  in the right environment we can  deliver  a host of wider benefits to areas surrounding the hubs. This can only be good news for our economic regions, and for delivering my ambition of ensuring the fruits of prosperity fall much more evenly across Wales. I look forward to seeing entrepreneurs from all parts of Wales benefit at the earliest opportunity.”

The Wrexham Hub officially opened in May 2018 and already houses 40 members. It is anticipated that the remaining 4 Hubs will be fully operational by January 2019.