Welsh Assembly
The Welsh Assembly is the devolved Government for Wales, which is separate from the UK Government and has decision making powers in 20 different areas including health. Following a referendum in 2011 the Welsh Assembly gained powers to pass primary legislation which allowed them to pass laws without the consent of the UK government. As a result the Welsh Assembly is now solely responsible for Health and AF policy in Wales.
It is for this reason the AFA frequently engages with the relevant Welsh Assembly ministers, assembly members and committees to ensure that AF is at heart of the policy agenda and that the needs of patients and clinicians are fully taken into account.
This page shows the work that we have been doing in Wales:
The National Assembly for Wales Health and Social Care Committee launch report on its inquiry into 'Stroke Risk Reduction'
The AFA recently appeared before the Welsh Health and Social Care Committee and made the case for AF treatment to be at the heart of stroke prevention. We highlighted that having AF increases the likelihood of having a stroke five times and in order to prevent this, a greater emphasis on diagnostic methods such as opportunistic pulse checks is required
Following this the Health and Social Care Committee made the following recommendations;
- That a greater focus be placed on public awareness campaigns
- Pulse checks were recommended as standard to patients who are exhibiting stroke risk factors
- The welsh government should find new ways in order to ensure that GPs are complying with NICE guidance on the treatment of AF and that patients are provided with the information to make an informed choice.
If you would like to read the report in full then you can do so here.
The National Assembly for Wales Health and Social Care Committee takes evidence from AFA
AFA has been working hard to ensure that your voice is heard across the UK Governments. As part of this, we were called to provide evidence to the Welsh Assembly’s inquiry into Stroke Risk Reduction on 22 September. Jo Jerrome, Assistant Director at the AFA, told the Parliamentary Committee about the incidence of AF and the impact that a diagnosis of AF has on patients. Ms Jerrome also highlighted many of the opportunistic screening programmes that take place across Wales as well as promoting the importance of an early diagnosis and successful treatment. We’re also pleased to report that since this evidence session, the issue has been raised in the Assembly a number of times, most recently at Health Questions where the Labour Health Minister, Lesley Griffiths AM stated that she would look into the possibility of introducing pulse checks for the over 50s.
The National Assembly for Wales Health and Social Care Committee, are holding an inquiry into ‘Stroke Risk Reduction’
Read the evidence submitted and follow the open meetings