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Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Visitor Dispute

Is this devolved to Wales?

Where is this happening?

What's happening?

Why is this happening?

Who has been affected?

What's happening?

Why is this happening?

Who has been affected?

Charts (if needed)

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Souce text, source text, source text.

£ 00 million Total

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Who has raised this at the Senedd?

Mabon ap Gwynfor MS

Health & Care Minister

Rhun ap Iorwerth MS

First Minister

Sera Evans MS

Chair: Education & Young People

Sara Crowley MS

Backbencher

James Evans MS

Chair: Environment & Rural Affairs

Ben McKenna MS

Shadow Health Minister

Steve Bayliss MS

Backbencher

Ken Skates MS

Labour Group Leader

Vikki Howells MS

Senedd Commissioner

Andrew RT Davies MS

Senedd Commissioner

Mabon ap Gwynfor MS

Health & Care Minister

Rhun ap Iorwerth MS

First Minister

Sera Evans MS

Chair: Education & Young People

Sara Crowley MS

Backbencher

James Evans MS

Chair: Environment & Rural Affairs

Ben McKenna MS

Shadow Health Minister

Steve Bayliss MS

Backbencher

Ken Skates MS

Labour Group Leader

Vikki Howells MS

Senedd Commissioner

Andrew RT Davies MS

Senedd Commissioner

What are the party positions on this?

Plaid Cymru backbenchers support the cause of the health visitors, but believe the matter is best resolved by a negotiated agreement between Unite and the health board.

I am concerned that there are significant safeguarding risks posed by the fact that child and family health are not being prioritised by Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board in some of the most deprived and vulnerable parts of Wales. The way in which the health visitors have been treated by the health board is utterly contemptible, and their recent social media post regarding the dispute is an example of the inflammatory and derogatory language they've used to describe the dispute.

(Health visitors) are highly skilled professionals and that carries significant responsibility. They make difficult judgments every day and play a vital role in building strong and resilient communities, yet many see the value of that expertise not being fully recognised. I understand why this causes frustration. But these concerns are rooted in local circumstances and local decisions. A lasting resolution will come through meaningful negotiation, not an externally imposed settlement. Unite must continue to engage constructively and in good faith, but the primary responsibility for rebuilding trust and resolving this dispute rests with the health board.

Reform UK support the cause of the health visitors, but believe the Welsh Government should intervene directly to resolve the dispute.

I have in my hand today, Llywydd, a letter signed by the current First Minister. He signed it during the election campaign in April. In this letter, he said that the failure to reach a fair settlement was unacceptable, and he called for immediate action for band 6 health visitors to be upgraded to band 7. In March, the current Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport said that all health visitors should be band 7, not band 6, and that an all-female workforce were being denied the pay that they deserved.

In Rhondda and Ogmore, a health visitor is often the first to notice a baby not feeding, a mother not coping, a home not safe. I accept that the board is the employer and banding must follow NHS job evaluation—the Cabinet Minister cannot sign a payslip. But this dispute has outlasted three First Ministers, and the fourth signed the demand himself—a joint open letter, on 17 April, calling for band 7. Health visitors have now publicly called on him to honour that support.

Labour accept that this dispute was inherited by Plaid Cymru, but believe the Welsh Government are able to intervene directly in the dispute based on past examples.

….there are precedents too, as to how you could intervene. Vaughan Gething stepped in in Betsi Cadwaladr to resolve a shift pattern issue for nurses there; Eluned Morgan sacked non-executive members of the same health board when she wasn't happy with their work. So, we urge you to look at these precedents, listen to Unite and the health visitors they represent, use the powers you have under section 12 of the NHS Act, and not listen to those siren voices urging caution.

Yes, you've inherited this challenge, but during the election many of your Members were telling those health visitors that it would be resolved with direct intervention within days—within days. They now question the integrity of your Government and they say that they voted for your party on the basis of what they now believe was a false promise. caution.

The Conservatives support the cause of the health visitors, but believe the Welsh Government should intervene directly to resolve the dispute.

(Health visitors) want to be recognised for their professional qualifications. This isn't saying, 'We want 10 per cent', this isn't saying, 'We want 5 per cent'....this is the health workers saying that they want their professional qualifications recognised in the 'Agenda for Change' scheme at band 7 instead of band 6. It was done in Scotland in 2019, it can be done in Wales for this vital piece of the jigsaw that is the health family here in Wales. I call on you, Minister, to live up to the pledge that you made at the election....and pledges that your Members made in this Chamber back in March, and bring this dispute to an end.

Green MSs haven’t said anything on this issue yet.

Test Test Test

Jane Dodds hasn’t said anything on this specifically.

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Who is responsible?

Mabon ap Gwynfor MS

Health & Care Minister

What have ministers said?

The Government amendment reflects the reality that this remains a local employment dispute between the health board as employer and Unite as the recognised trade union, and, as such, these matters must be resolved through the established employer, trade union and industrial relations processes. That doesn't mean that the Welsh Government has been inactive. I've engaged directly with both Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and Unite since coming into Government and have repeatedly called on all parties to come together, engage constructively and work towards a resolution as quickly as possible.

While we are as frustrated as anyone that this dispute is ongoing, it is also important to acknowledge recent developments that have taken place. In the space of a few months after coming into office, this Welsh Government's pressure on Cwm Taf resulted in the health board bringing forward a financial settlement to end the dispute. This represents a significant step change compared to the prolonged state of deadlock that existed prior to the election. While the offer was rejected, it shows how we are doing what we can to ensure that this impasse comes to an end.

It's a dispute that we inherited from the previous administration. What is clear, as the former Labour First Minister said, is that this is something that can be resolved only by the health service itself. I know the efforts that my health Minister has put into trying to influence the health service to get to that point where we have a resolution.

What's being done about this?

What do the Welsh Government want to do?

Does this need a new law or regulations?

How long will this take?

What do the Welsh Government want to do?

Does this need a new law or regulations?

How long will this take?

What have the Senedd's Committees said?

Nothing has been discussed yet.

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Relevant Votes

Date	Motion Number	Subject	Binding Vote?	Votes For	Votes Against	Absent/No Vote	Outcome
16/09/26	NDM9294	As amended	No	42	42	10	REJECTED (PO)
16/09/26	NDM9294	Amendment – Health visitors play important role in children’s health	No	84	0	10	AGREED
16/09/26	NDM9294	Amendment – Plaid Cymru hasn’t honoured open letter commitment	No	42	42	10	REJECTED (PO)
16/09/26	NDM9294	Amendment - Calls on health board & Unite to resolve dispuite	No	42	42	10	REJECTED (PO)
16/09/26	NDM9294	Amendment – Dispute pre-dates government	No	48	36	10	AGREED
16/09/26	NDM9294	Welsh Government should end Cwm Taf health visitor dispute	No	38	46	10	REJECTED