Written question WQ93440

Health is devolved in Wales. The Secretary of State for Health’s comments relate to England only.

Contributing to economic growth is already a priority for the NHS in Wales, as set out in the following:

• A Healthier Wales: Our Plan for Health and Social Care: This long-term plan highlights the role of health and social care in supporting economic growth. The plan emphasises the need for an efficient health system to underpin economic stability and growth by maintaining a healthy, productive population as well as the need for more confident engagement with external partners, including industry to achieving the ambitions set out in the Welsh Government’s ‘Prosperity for All’ strategy.

• Wales Innovates: Our Innovation Strategy for Wales, sets out our aim for a life sciences sector that contributes to national ‘health and wealth’ and is recognised internationally. Its health and well-being mission is to achieve “a coherent innovation ecosystem where the health and social care sector collaborates with industry, academia and the third sector to deliver greater value and impact for citizens, the economy, and the environment”.

• NHS Wales Planning Framework 2022-25: This document highlights the NHS role in contributing to broader government objectives such as economic growth and education. It outlines how integrating health strategies with economic development plans can lead to improved health outcomes and economic benefits for the region​. It recognises that NHS Wales is the largest public organisation in Wales and, as such, has a unique opportunity to use its spending and employment practices to promote wider government policy goals, such as supporting local economic growth.

• Health and Care Research Wales 2022-25: This plan highlights that the Welsh Government has recognised the strategic importance of health and social care research to the Welsh economy and to society.

Life sciences is a thriving sector, and we have a number of world class capabilities in Wales and we are supporting its growth in a number of ways. My department co-funds the Life Sciences Hub Wales, with the Department for Economy which enables the Hub to work towards its mission of transforming the health and economic wellbeing of the nation. It does this through helping accelerate the development and adoption of innovative solutions for better health outcomes and partnering with industry to drive business growth and create jobs.

We also work closely with the UK Government to ensure Welsh companies are able to benefit from UK programmes. For example, the UK Government’s Office for Life Sciences launched the new Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund in March 2022. This UK-wide three-year fund of £60m, awards funding to companies to upgrade, expand or build new facilities to manufacture human medicines, diagnostics or medical devices.