Vaughan Gething is a Welsh Labour and Co-operative politician serving as Minister for Health and Social Services since 2016. He has also served as Member of the Senedd for Cardiff South and Penarth since 2011.
The Welsh Health Minister has most recently warned that Wales’ NHS is “under considerable and sustained pressure” as coronavirus cases and admissions to hospital soar.
Personally…
How many residents know that Vaughan, who as born in Zambia on 15 March 1974, lived in our village of Broadwindsor from the age of 2 years old and attended Beaminster school between 1985 to 1992 before moving onto Aberystwyth and Cardiff Universities.
Vaughan’s sister and four brothers also attended Beaminster School. Vaughan and brother Caradoc were keen cricketers and played for both Broadwindsor and Beaminster clubs.
Vaughan’s father David was a popular local vet at Beaminster practice Gething and Bowditch which became Girling and Bowditch following David’s retirement.
Professionally…
Vaughan became a solicitor and is a former partner at Thompsons. He is a member of the GMB and Unite unions. He has previously served as a County Councillor and a school governor.
He has also been a Community Service Volunteer – supporting and caring for a student with cerebral palsy – and is former president of NUS Wales.
Politically…
between 1999 and 2001, Vaughan worked as a researcher to former Assembly Members Val Feld and Lorraine Barrett. Between 1999 and 2001, Vaughan was the chair of Right to Vote – a cross-party project to encourage greater participation from black minority ethnic communities in Welsh public life.
- In 2008, Vaughan Gething became the first black President of the Welsh TUC and the youngest ever holder of the position.
- In June 2013 Vaughan was appointed Deputy Minister for Tackling Poverty.
- In September 2014, Vaughan was appointed Deputy Minister for Health.
- In May 2016 he was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport.
- On 3 November 2017, Vaughan was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services.
- On 13 December 2018 Vaughan was appointed Minister for Health and Social Services*.
*The Minister for Health and Social Services is a cabinet position in the Welsh Government which was created in December 2018.
His responsibilities in his role are many:
- Public health: Covid-19 response, screening and vaccination
- Oversight of NHS delivery and performance
- Delivery of new outcome measures
- Delivery Plans
- Scrutiny of NHS performance against three-year plans
- Oversight of escalation procedures
- Charges for NHS services
- Receipt of, response to and direction of reports from HIW
- Oversight of the Welsh Government’s relationship with the WAO regarding activities relating to the NHS
- Medical workforce training and development with the exception of years 1-5 of University Education for Doctors
- Health innovation and Digital
- Children’s and young people’s rights and entitlements, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales
- Early Years and Childcare
- Flying Start Initiative for children 0-3
- Families First and play policies
- Adoption and fostering services
- Safeguarding
- Children and young people’s advocacy, including complaints, representations and advocacy under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014
- Information sharing under the Children Act 2004
- Cafcass Cymru
- Policy and oversight of the provision of all social services activities of Local Authorities in Wales, including the issue of statutory guidance
- Oversight of Social Care Wales
- Regulation of residential, domiciliary, adult placements, foster care, under 8`s care provision and private healthcare
- Inspection of, and reporting on, the provision of social services by Local Authorities (via Care Inspectorate Wales), including joint reviews of social services and responding to reports
- Relationships with the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales
In July 2020, Vaughan did an exclusive interview for ITV with Adrian Masters addressing the subject of racism following the death of George Floyd at the end of May. You can view the full four minute interview HERE.
Vaughan currently lives in his constituency of Cardiff South and Penarth with his wife Michelle and their son, Isaac. It may be some considerable time until we see him visit Dorset again and call into The White Lion for a pint. Stay safe everyone.
You can email Vaughan at: Vaughan.Gething@senedd.wales or Follow him on Twitter at: twitter.com/vaughangething
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