CARE homes across Clwyd South have been given praise in the Welsh chamber of government by the area's Senedd member Ken Skates.

Mr Skates was speaking during questions to Julie Morgan, Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services and while he praised the response of care homes during the pandemic, he took the opportunity to ask what the Welsh Government is doing to help drive recruitment.

He also pressed Mr Morgan on how the recent announcement of £42m of extra funding – in addition to the £248m already confirmed – will benefit local care settings.

Ms Morgan said the Welsh Government was funding a national advertising and social media campaign to attract more people to the care sector, adding: “We are supporting a range of targeted initiatives to encourage the take-up of employment in social care.

"We fund regional staff to support campaigns led by local authorities and by health boards.”

She added: "I thank Ken Skates for his recognition of the tremendous work that has been done in the care sector during the pandemic."

After the debate, Mr Skates said he was satisfied with the answers he received from Ms Morgan on the commitment to help drive recruitment into the care sector in Clwyd South.

He said: “Staff and volunteers at care homes in Clwyd South have gone way above the call of duty during the pandemic, adapting to their world being turned upside down on top of the usual demands of providing such professional and compassionate care.

“The demands on the social care settings have never been greater, and I’m pleased the Welsh Government has recognised this and shown its commitment to supporting them.”

The Welsh Government’s NHS winter plan was published recently after months of planning and significant investment in health and social care to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.

More than £248m has already been invested through the NHS recovery fund to help health boards tackle waiting times and transform the way they deliver services such as non-urgent patient transport, which will help ease pressure on ambulance services and ensure patients can access the care they need.