Betsi Cadwaladr university health board is responsible, together with independent contractors where relevant, for the standard of GP surgeries in north Wales. We have provided significant investment in the primary care NHS estate in north Wales over the last few years.

The wellbeing of the NHS Wales workforce is a key priority which is taken seriously by Welsh Government, NHS Wales employers and trade unions. It is a key feature of the Workforce and organisational development directors collaborative work programme with a number of projects underway including establishing wellbeing champions, psychological consultation and drop in sessions, sport events, mindfulness, relaxation sessions and wellbeing road shows.

We continue to work with the health boards and other partners in mid and west Wales to take a range of actions to improve access to healthcare services that are safe and sustainable and as close to people’s homes as possible.

I expect Health Boards to work with GPs to ensure patients receive the appointments they need in a timely manner. Through modernising our primary care services we want access to continue to improve.

I am pleased to confirm all patients in Wales can access this treatment following the NICE recommendation in September 2016. Patients in north Wales can access this therapy at the north Wales cancer centre at Rhyl. Patients elsewhere in Wales can be referred for this treatment in Bristol. Swansea and Velindre cancer centres also have plans to provide this service.

Sports days are integral in equipping children and young people with the physical skills they need to help develop healthy behaviours through their formative years. They also complement other year round activities like the daily mile.

Welsh Government has invested £4.5 million in a Wales cancer research centre, which provides underpinning support for lung cancer research in Wales. There is an active mesothelioma research community in Wales, with seven studies on the Health and Care Research Wales clinical research portfolio, three of which are open to recruitment.

NHS Employers in Wales continue to work to understand the full range of implications the new contract in England raises for junior doctors and the NHS in Wales. The BMA remains in negotiations with the Department of Health on certain aspects of the new contract and its associated assimilation arrangements.

We are committed to delivering high–quality health and care services that are connected and centred on individual needs and outcomes. Our ‘More than just words’ strategic framework sets out our commitment and actions to support and strengthen the planning and delivery of Welsh language services in health and care.