Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:07 pm on 25 October 2022.
Jane Hutt
Labour
5:07,
25 October 2022
Thank you very much, Jane Dodds. Also, it's really good to hear of the progress of that refugee you met at the stall so recently, and what she's come from—giving birth in a bomb shelter in Kyiv—just shows how important it is that we continue with our support as a supersponsor and as a nation of sanctuary. And so many of us across this Chamber have met people who have had the same experience, and also who want to get on and set up businesses, get into work, be independent, become citizens of Wales. Many wouldn't have imagined that they were going to come and stay as long as they have; they would have hoped that the war would be over and that they would be back with their loved ones. We must think, always, of the fact that their loved ones are back, so many of them are back in Ukraine, fighting, defending their country. But we must make sure that we give them the support that they need to set up in business, to get housing, to help make their contribution, which is part of what I'm saying in my statement, but also get the UK Government to play their part. This is not just an issue for Wales, this is an issue not just for the UK—it's the whole European humanitarian response that has been so important.
Just in terms of access to dental services, obviously we need to make sure that those who are with hosts—. Perhaps again, it's so much up to the host to access the information. We are funding organisations to support hosts, which I think is very important, so that they can look to the information they can get so that they—. Hosts shouldn't, themselves, have to be paying for that kind of access to services, and we need to make sure that they know where to go, and signpost them. So, it is advisable for Ukrainians to register with a dentist as soon as possible, but there may not be a dental practice opening capacity for accepting new NHS patients. But the local health board has got that list of practices, and also, if it's a dental emergency, then NHS Direct Wales should facilitate access to community dental services. So, if I can just say that today and put it on the record: NHS 111 for the local health board to get a list of NHS practices and 0845 46 47 for NHS Direct Wales, leading them to a community dental service.
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