Future Hospital update from Wales.

Abstract

As we head into winter, this seems like a good opportunity to look back and reflect on yet another busy year for the NHS in Wales. While we have not had to contend with junior doctor strikes or the direct effect on our health service of this summer's political high drama, there is still a great deal to report. First of all, Dr Alan Rees, the inaugural RCP vice president for Wales stepped down from this role when his term ended in August 2016. He will be missed a great deal by everyone at the RCP, especially the team in Wales! Our own Welsh general election took place in May, resulting in a Labour minority government. It was a big night for all of the parties, not least for UKIP, which won seven seats, and propelled the former Conservative MP Neil Hamilton into a leadership role within the Senedd group. Plaid Cymru became the official opposition, while the Liberal Democrats lost all but one seat; their leader, Kirsty Williams, resigned and was invited to sit in the new Labour cabinet as education secretary. Dr Alan Rees, former RCP vice president for Wales …