Written question WQ85866

It is my intention that national clinical networks are funded, in part, through the current allocations for major health condition delivery plan implementation groups. Some existing networks benefit from other funding streams, but the overall level of funding required will be dependent on the number and scale of networks that is finally determined. The programme to determine the list of networks and their respective functions is due to conclude by April 2023.

The Quality Statement for Respiratory Disease is due in quarter two of 2022-23. However, due to some minor delays in finalising the next tranche of three quality statements, it is likely that publication of the Quality Statement for Respiratory Disease will be achieved by early December 2022.

Quality statements include expectations that are more directly relevant to local NHS planning, for example that 75% of people should start first definitive treatment within 62 days of their point of suspicion for cancer. Whereas delivery plans focused on national enabling actions that were intended to augment local NHS planning. For instance, the introduction of a single cancer pathway.

Quality statements are aimed specifically at setting clearer expectations for local NHS planning and as a result enable more focused accountability discussions with health boards. Quality statements therefore work more effectively with the way the NHS in Wales is planned, delivered, and held to account. However, quality statements are a relatively new concept, and it will take time for planning and accountability processes to fully adjust to them.