Continuing NHS Healthcare is a package of care provided free-of-charge by the NHS for people with complex and primarily health-based needs. This can be provided in a care home or an individual’s own home.

People who think they, or someone they care for, may have been eligible for Continuing NHS Healthcare but paid for all, or part, of their care can submit a claim.

Potential claimants have until October 31st 2017 to register their intent to make a claim for continuing healthcare costs which were incurred between 1 October 2015 and 31 October 2016.

The NHS will provide advice to claimants and will complete all of the work required to review their case free of charge. This is not a legal process and there is no requirement for people to appoint a solicitor. However, if a solicitor is used, these costs cannot be reimbursed. 

All claims will be reviewed within six months of the NHS having all the information that it needs. 

Social Services Minister, Rebecca Evans, said:

“Disabled people or those with an illness will sometimes need long-term care to help them, and their families, manage. Some will have paid for that care themselves, when it should have been provided free by the NHS. 

“If people, or their families, believe they met the criteria for Continuing NHS Healthcare, but they paid for their care themselves, I encourage them to come forward to make a claim. 

Information on how to submit a claim can be found here

The campaign, which is being launched today, aims to engage widely with people across Wales to help inform the Welsh Government’s legislative proposals on removing the defence of reasonable punishment. Its purpose is to learn more about people’s practical understanding of the current law and to identify any concerns about how a change in law would be implemented. 

Those with parenting responsibilities, and others with an interest, are invited to provide their views via a survey about parenting and discipline on the Welsh Government website. The website also hosts a “Frequently Asked Questions” section and infographics illustrating general parental attitudes to physical punishment. People can also take part in an online conversation on social media using #Talkparenting,  

The Cabinet Secretary said: “There is an increasing body of evidence showing that physical punishment is not effective and is potentially harmful to children; yet it is still legal. 

“I want to address this anomaly and send a clear message that the physical punishment of children is no longer acceptable in a modern  society. I also believe that removing the defence of reasonable punishment will encourage parents of young children to use more positive parenting techniques, which are proven to be more effective.

“I urge parents and all those with an interest to keep an eye out on social media for our #Talkparenting campaign and to give us their views.”

The Economy Secretary made the announcement ahead of a visit to Ebbw Vale on Monday, where he is due to meet local apprentices and speak to the board of the Enterprise Zone and others about his plans and vision for the area.  

Earlier this year the Economy Secretary announced the Welsh Government would invest £100m over ten years in an Automotive Technology Park in Blaenau Gwent with the  potential to create up to 1500 new full time jobs in one of Wales’ most deprived areas. 

The park is one of six strategic hubs identified in the Ministerial Taskforce for the South Wales Valleys’ high-level action plan, Our Valleys, Our Future, which was published in July. 

Speaking ahead of his latest visit to Ebbw Vale, he said:

“I am keen to progress our plans for a £100m  Technology Park as quickly as possible in order to secure high quality jobs and investment in Ebbw Vale and stimulate economic growth across the Heads of the Valleys.

“Today, I am pleased to announce that I have approved the necessary funding for the design and construction of a 50,000 sq ft industrial space in  Rhyd Y Blew in Ebbw Vale to kick start that  process. 

“Since I announced the Welsh Government’s  plans to establish the technology park, we have had a significant number of enquiries from automotive companies looking to move to Ebbw Vale, and I am confident that the development of this new facility will help us to start to meet demand in the market. 

“There is no doubt we are at a pivotal time for the automotive industry. I want the new Technology Park to become renowned as a centre for the development and application of next generation technologies for intelligent transportation. I’m  confident that the inclusion of elements such as a 5G test bed will help us achieve that. 

“This needs to be a project that can have an impact in both the near and the long term.  We need to retain our focus on  the here and the now, which also means focussing on jobs on the ground and the petrol engines that will be with us for some time to come, but it needs to built in a way that can capitalise on rapid changes happening in the automotive industry.  The park and our investment needs to be future proofed to develop and take advantage of the cleaner technologies of the future. 

“We need to be clever and collaborative in order to make the Technology Park a success which means leveraging in  funding from both private and public sectors, working constructively with our partners and investing in local skills. 

“Later today I look forward to meeting a group of Aspire apprentices working and training in and around  Ebbw Vale. Their skills, and the skills of other like them across the Heads of the Valleys will be key to the success of this technology park. We owe it to them and the region more widely to make it a success.” 

Chair of the Ebbw Vale Enterprise Zone  Board, Mark Langshaw said: 

“ We are pleased to welcome the Economy Secretary  to Ebbw Vale again to discuss plans for the £100m technology park. It is good see that work is progressing and that the Welsh Government   has committed to the construction of a  50,000 sq foot industrial building in Rhyd y Blew. We look forward to working with Welsh Government on this project to ensure that it delivers for the people of Blaenau Gwent and beyond.”

The Economy Secretary will co-chair another Ministerial Taskforce for the South Wales Valleys Taskforce public engagement event at Ebbw Vale Institute later today alongside fellow Taskforce Minister Alun Davies, where economic prosperity and opportunities to capitalise on the region’s natural environment will both be on the agenda.

The deal includes ensuring no cuts to the Supporting People grant; £15m to improve vital north and south links on the A487 and A470 and a £40m boost for mental health funding over 2 years.

There is an extra £20m-a-year for higher and further education and £6m for a young farmers’ grant scheme over 2 years.

There is additional funding for the Welsh language; for Wales to deal with the impact of Brexit, including support for businesses and for music in schools. The agreement builds on the one struck between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru last year.

It also includes:

• a £7m development fund for undergraduate medical training in North Wales
• £2m to remove the tolls on the Cleddau bridge in Pembrokeshire in 2019-20
• £3m to support the design and development of a third Menai bridge crossing
• a further £2m for the secretariat and investment support for a new ‘Arfor’ economic region in West Wales.

Welsh Government Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said:

“We are pleased we have been able to agree this 2-year deal with Plaid Cymru, which secures the whole of our Budget.

“This agreement builds on the one reached between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru last year and includes a series of recurrent allocations for the Welsh language, arts, end-of-life-care, mental health, higher education and Visit Wales.

“We have also been able to agree capital funding to take forward the new integrated healthcare centre in Cardigan and the results of the feasibility studies into a national art gallery and football museum in North Wales, which were agreed as part of last year’s agreement.”

Adam Price, Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for finance, business and the economy, said:

“This is a Budget Agreement that will deliver for people and communities in all parts of Wales.

“It protects the vulnerable, invests in our young, and innovates for all our futures. This is a pan-Wales budget agreement, from the Cleddau to the Menai from Wrexham to the Rhondda, from culture to agriculture, from energy and transport to education and health – new ideas for a new Wales.”