North Wales MS and Chair of the Cross-Party Group on Disability in the Senedd, Mark Isherwood, has today spoken of the vital role Third Sector organisations play in supporting disabled or seriously ill children and young people, and called on the Welsh Government to provide them with the resources they need to continue doing this.
Raising the matter with the First Minister during this afternoon’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood emphasised that the work done by these charities takes resource pressure off the NHS and Social Services in Wales.
He said:
“As we know, families with a disabled member, or members, are more likely to have a lower income than otherwise, which is why the direct support provided by the Third Sector in Wales is so vital.
“Cerebral Palsy Cymru has recently written to all Members here, urging them to write to your Minister for Health and Social Services to support their request for funding for their early intervention programme, so that they don't have to turn away any baby or family in Wales who can benefit from their life-changing service.
“Only 20 per cent of their funding comes from statutory bodies, via Local Health Boards for their specialist interventions, and their funding has not increased since 2009.
“Family Fund supports low-income families raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person, and I'm hosting their 50th Anniversary Senedd event tomorrow.
“The essential work provided by Charities such as these merits support, not only because of the essential services they provide, but also because they take resource pressure off the NHS and Social Services in Wales, i.e., smart budgeting.
“How do you respond to the invitation extended to you by Cerebral Palsy Cymru to visit their specialist centre in Cardiff to see their unique work with children and families across Wales, and to the invitation to visit tomorrow's Family Fund 50th Anniversary Senedd Event?”
Instead of responding to these invitations, the First Minister said:
“I have no doubt at all that both organisations to which the Member refers do excellent work and make a difference in the lives of Welsh citizens. The position that the Welsh Government will be in is that there simply isn't money to do all the things we would like to do. It's as plain and simple as that.”
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Isherwood said:
“These wonderful charities deserve recognition and support for the vital work they do, and invitations from such charities deserve courteous and polite responses. It is therefore concerning that this First Minister chose to do otherwise. Contrary to his protestations, this is not about the size of the Welsh Government Budget, but about how well it is spent on the matters for which the Welsh Government is responsible. The work of Charities such as those I identified already saves millions for the NHS and Social Services in Wales, and relatively modest increases in their funding could save the NHS and Social Services in Wales millions more.”