Written question WQ96368
- Asked by
- Rhys ab OwenIndependent
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 7 days
Question
What plans does the Welsh Government have for the roll out of anaesthesia associates?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
It is the responsibility of health boards to plan how services are delivered in their local area, including recruitment and workforce planning, and they must regularly review these services to ensure they meet the needs of their resident population.
In 2019, Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) developed a small-scale anaesthesia associate (AA) pilot in partnership with Hywel Dda and Swansea Bay university health boards. This was delayed due to the pandemic and resumed in 2022. Workforce demand and future expansion of the AA role in Wales will be considered as part of HEIW’s annual education and training plans, which are informed by health board and NHS trust Integrated Medium Term Plans.
A small number of AAs have been part of the Hywel Dda University Health Board workforce for approximately 15 years.