The Health and Social Care Wales Bill

English version

The passage of the Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill through the Senedd Cymru marks a significant milestone for individuals receiving Continuing Healthcare (CHC) in Wales. The recent approval of the Bill at the fourth and final stage of the legislative process has been met with widespread approval, particularly among those advocating for greater autonomy in health and social care. The Welsh Government plan to implement the changes in early 2026.

What Does the Bill Change?

The core aim of the Bill is to amend the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006, allowing Welsh Ministers to make direct payments to individuals assessed as eligible for CHC. This amendment seeks to address concerns around choice, control, and fairness in the provision of healthcare services for those with complex needs.

The Welsh Government argues that these changes will:

Enable individuals to directly arrange and secure services that meet their assessed health needs, as an alternative to receiving services provided or commissioned by the NHS.
Offer more choice and control to individuals regarding how their care is provided and how their specific needs are met.
Ensure fairness and equality by preventing disabled and seriously ill individuals from losing autonomy over their care when receiving CHC funding.

The Anticipated Impact

One of the key expected benefits of this legislative change is an increase in the number of individuals willing to undergo CHC assessments. Previously, there were concerns that undergoing assessment might lead to the loss of direct payments, creating hesitancy among potential recipients. By securing the ability to receive direct payments under CHC, the amendment is likely to encourage more people to engage in the assessment process, ensuring that their complex health needs are managed more effectively.

With full healthcare funding provided by the NHS, individuals can access a comprehensive package of care tailored to their specific requirements, ultimately improving health outcomes and overall quality of life.

Bringing Wales in Line with England

This legislative update also brings Wales in alignment with England, where direct payments for CHC have been available through Personal Health Budgets (PHBs) since 2014. PHBs allow adults and children receiving CHC to use their allocated funds flexibly, ensuring that their needs, as outlined in their care plans, are met in a way that best suits them.

PPL’s Role in Delivering Direct Payments

PPL already provides virtual wallet and payroll services to deliver direct payments for individuals in Powys. Our expertise in facilitating direct payments ensures that individuals can effectively manage their personal budgets, offering a seamless and efficient way to maintain autonomy over their care choices. The Virtual Wallet will hopefully play a crucial role in supporting the successful implementation of direct payments for CHC across Wales.

A Positive Step Forward

The passage of the Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill represents a major step towards greater autonomy and fairness in healthcare provision. By enabling direct payments for those eligible for CHC, the Welsh Government is reinforcing the principles of choice, dignity, and personalized care—ensuring that individuals have the freedom to make decisions about their own health and wellbeing.

As the new framework is implemented, it will be crucial to monitor its impact on service provision and patient experiences. However, there is strong optimism that this reform will lead to improved health outcomes and a more equitable care system in Wales.

Welsh Version

Bil Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru

Mae taith y Bil Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru drwy Senedd Cymru yn digwyddiad arwyddocaol i unigolion sy’n derbyn Gofal Iechyd Parhaus (GIP) yng Nghymru. Roedd y cam ddiweddar i basio cyfnod 4 a’r cyfnod terfynol yn y broses ddeddfwriaethol yn un poblogaidd, yn enwedig ymysg pobl sy’n argymell dros fwy o ymreolaeth ym maes iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol.

Beth Fydd yn Newid o dan y Bil?

Prif bwriad y Bil yw gwneud diwygiadau i’r Deddf Gwasanaeth Iechyd Gwladol (Cymru) 2006, a galluogi Gweinidogion Cymru i wneud taliadau uniongyrchol i unigolion gymwys i dderbyn Gofal Iechyd Parhaus. Mae’re diwygiad hon yn ceisio rhoi sylw i’r phryderon ynghylch dewis, rheolaeth, a thegwch wrth ddarparu gwasanaethau gofal iechyd i’r rhai ag anghenion cymhleth.

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn awgrymu y bydd y newidiadau hyn yn:

Galluogi unigolion i drefnu a sicrhau gwasanaethau’n uniongyrchol sy’n diwallu eu hanghenion iechyd, fel dewis amgen i dderbyn gwasanaethau a ddarperir neu a gomisiynir gan y GIG.
Cynnig mwy o ddewis a rheolaeth i unigolion o ran sut y darperir eu gofal a sut y diwellir eu hanghenion penodol.
Sicrhau tegwch a chydraddoldeb drwy atal unigolion anabl rhag colli ymreolaeth dros eu gofal wrth dderbyn cyllid CHC.

Yr Effaith a Ragwelir

Un o’r fanteision disgwyliedig y newid deddfwriaethol hwn yw cynnydd yn nifer yr unigolion sy'n fodlon cael asesiadau GIP. Yn flaenorol, roedd pobl yn teimlo’n pryderus y gallai cael asesiad arwain at golli taliadau uniongyrchol, gan greu ansicrwydd ymhlith derbynwyr posibl. Drwy galluogi unigolion i dderbyn taliadau uniongyrchol o dan GIP, mae’r ddiwygiad yn debygol o annog mwy o bobl i gymryd rhan yn y broses asesu, gan sicrhau bod eu hanghenion iechyd yn cael eu rheoli’n effeithiol.

Gyda chyllid gofal iechyd llawn yn cael ei ddarparu gan y GIG, gall unigolion gael mynediad i becyn gofal cynhwysfawr wedi'i addasu i'w anghenion unigol, ac felly’n gwella canlyniadau iechyd ac ansawdd bywyd yn y pen draw.

Dod â Chymru yn unol â Lloegr

Mae’r diweddariad deddfwriaethol hwn hefyd yn alinio Cymru â Lloegr, lle mae taliadau uniongyrchol ar gyfer GIP wedi bod ar gael drwy Gyllidebau Iechyd Personol (PHBs) ers 2014. Mae PHBs yn galluogi oedolion a phlant sy’n cael GIP ddefnyddio’r arian a ddyrannwyd iddynt gyda hyblygrwydd, gan sicrhau bod eu hanghenion, fel yr amlinellir yn eu cynlluniau gofal, yn cael eu diwallu yn y ffordd gorau iddynt.

Rôl PPL Mewn Darparu Taliadau Uniongyrchol

Mae PPL eisoes yn ddarparu gwasanaethau cyflogres a waled rhithiol i ddarparu taliadau uniongyrchol i unigolion ym Mhowys. Mae ein harbenigedd mewn darparu taliadau uniongyrchol yn sicrhau y gall unigolion reoli eu cyllidebau personol yn effeithiol, gan gynnig ffordd effeithlon o gynnal ymreolaeth dros eu dewisiadau gofal. Gobeithir y bydd y Waled Rhithiol yn chwarae rhan hanfodol mewn gefnogi gweithrediad llwyddiannus taliadau uniongyrchol ar gyfer GIP drwy gydol Cymru.

Cam Cadarnhaol Ymlaen

Mae taith Bil Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol (Cymru) yn gam mawr tuag at fwy o ymreolaeth a thegwch mewn darpariaeth gofal iechyd. Drwy alluogi taliadau uniongyrchol i’r rhai sy’n gymwys i gael GIP, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn atgyfnerthu’r egwyddorion o ddewis, urddas, a gofal personol - gan sicrhau bod gan unigolion y rhyddid i wneud penderfyniadau am eu hiechyd a’u llesiant eu hunain.

Wrth i’r fframwaith newydd gael ei weithredu, bydd yn bwysig monitro ei effaith ar ddarpariaeth gwasanaethau a phrofiadau cleifion. Fodd bynnag, mae optimistiaeth gryf y bydd y ddiwygiad hwn yn arwain at ganlyniadau iechyd gwell a system ofal decach yng Nghymru.