Minister for Children, Older People and Social Care, Huw Irranca-Davies has visited Pembrokeshire to see how Welsh Government investment delivering seamless care services that improve the health and well-being of people across the county.

The Minister began his visit to the county with a visit to Milford Haven Leisure Centre to see how the social enterprise café is helping people with learning disabilities into work, by providing employment opportunities. The project received £100,000 funding from the Welsh Government’s integrated care fund (ICF).

The Minister also heard about several other projects the Welsh Government is supporting via the ICF in Pembrokeshire, including:

• Community Connectors – A 3rd sector community & citizen centred approach to help people achieve and sustain a good quality of life within a supportive community setting. This project received £30,000 ICF funding
• Pembrokeshire Time Bank  – a pilot project to examine the potential for community time banking as a preventative service that encourages participants to build (or rebuild) their community ties. This project receives £11,000 ICF funding for 2018/19
• Bus Buddies Project – which provides volunteers to help people who need extra support to use public and community transport services. This project has received £5,000 ICF funding.

The Minister then visited the Care At Home Team, based at South Pembrokeshire Hospital. Operational since January 2017, the team has cared for over 300 patients in the local community, helping them to maintain their independence and remain at home. The project has received £200,000 funding from the ICF.

The Welsh Government has allocated nearly £6.6 million in ICF revenue to the West Wales Regional Partnership Board in 2018-19 to support a range of innovative integrated care services.  Overall £50 million has been provided across Wales.

Speaking following the visit, Huw Irranca-Davies said:

“It was great to visit Pembrokeshire to see for myself the real, positive difference Welsh Government funding is making to so many people’s lives across the county. These are the types of seamless services – which bring together health, social services and the social value sector – that A Healthier Wales – our long term plan for Health and Social Care aspires to.

“From the inspirational individuals I met at café in Milford Haven, who are doing outstanding work to help people with learning disabilities gain experience to allow them to make the conversion to paid work, to the Care At Home Team, which is providing support to people to maintain their independence and remain at home, it’s great to see so many dedicated staff making a real difference to the lives of so many people in our communities.”