Wales First Minister contender Vaughan Gething on Wellbeing Hubs

Mr Gething pledges to keep NHS Wales in public hands and to always match the spending per head as that in England as he looks to succeed Mark Drakeford in becoming leader of the party.

One of the most divisive issues in Vale healthcare is Cardiff and Vale Health Board’s attempts to introduce a Wellbeing Hub to the county to serve the Eastern side of the Vale as a “super-hub” that will keep much of patient treatment out of beleaguered hospitals.

There has been fury among members of the public at the suggested locations of the hub – either in Penarth Leisure Centre at Cogan, or the old police station on Windsor Road.

In the latest engagement meeting, one councillor says the people he represents don’t even know what a Wellbeing Hub is.

However, this hasn’t stopped former health minister Gething from supporting the construction of a hub in the Vale.

On Wellbeing Hub’s, Mr Gething said: “I think the hubs are a good example of what we will need more of.

“It makes it easier and more convenient not just to get access to health care, but actually get other health services which take place in the same venue and which will make it more convenient.”

In vogue. Health boards across the country are looking at introducing 'Wellbeing Hubs' (Image: CVUHB)

• “I Do not think people know what it is”, that's the damning assessment of one councillor as another engagement session was held over the Vale’s future healthcare plans and the proposed "Wellbeing Hub"

Asked about the doctors strikes and whether it's fair for junior doctors, having trained for six years and often coming out of university with tens of thousands of pounds of debt, to be on a wage of £14 an hour, Mr Gething says the issue lies with the Tories.

Mr Gething was recently in Barry where he revealed more about his ambitions if he becomes the next Labour leader (Image: Supplied)

Read more:

• Leader contender Vaughan Gething sets out NHS vision
• Vaughan Gething on his Wales Labour leadership punt
• Cardiff Vale Health Board chief admit to lack of GPs

Mr Gething also put the erosion of GP services and the worrying lack of medical staff in NHS Wales, at the door of “Tory austerity”.

Mr Gething said: “The big challenge is 14 years of the Tories where resources are being reduced every year.

“We know to meet the legitimate aspirations of our staff it comes down to the fact there is not enough money in the system.

“We cannot resolve the pay issues of staff in the health service without looking at the resources available.

“We will need more resources because we cannot fill the gap by making other people in public services redundant.

“The issue is not how do you get a better deal out of the Tory Government, it’s how do you turf them out.”

Fellow leadership contender Jeremy Miles has pledged to cut NHS waiting lists and invest more in education if he becomes First Minister.