Written question WQ94409

Health boards are responsible for planning and delivering health services in their area in line with Welsh Government planning guidance. The latest planning guidance, which was issued in December 2023, states that “attention must be given to reducing health inequalities experienced by sectors of our communities.

“Reductions in some health inequalities can be achieved by identifying gaps in health service provision, considering areas of best practice and developing actions to address these gaps. Equitable access to all services remains at the centre of the values of the NHS in Wales and even more so when the impact can have a disproportionate effect during the cost-of-living crisis.”

In January, we published an Integrated Quality Statement (IQS) for Older People and People Living With Frailty. This provides the strategic direction for a collaborative way of working to improve quality of life, health and wellbeing outcomes for people in their later years, with a focus on ageing well and the proactive management of care attuned to the needs and things that matter to people as they get older.

We also work closely with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure older people in Wales can keep warm this winter. We support the UK Government’s Pension Credit campaign and have re-shared our own resources which signpost people to our Claim What’s Yours Helpline.