Eluned Morgan’s fiftieth session as first minister comes to a close.

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Conservative Andrew RT Davies raises further concerns about the running of the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, commonly referred to as the Heath hospital.

He refers to "a report that the health board has kept under wraps in the sterilisation and decontamination unit at that hospital, where a report was finalised in July 2024, when you were health minister, and it highlighted unacceptable levels of bullying, toxicity, criminal activity with damaging of surgical instruments, and a complete lack of confidence in the management at the university health board to deal with these issues. In fact, you keep talking about the social partnership model that the Labour Party are proud of here in Wales. The trade union reps describe the unit as ‘savage’ and ‘unforgiving’, with some staff unable to speak freely and openly. Are you proud that a health board is running a unit in the premier hospital of Wales in such a manner? And if you aren't proud of that, what is your government doing to make sure that these issues are addressed?"

Eluned Morgan replies, "it’s not unusual for health boards to do internal reviews, and for these not to be shared with the Welsh government, or in public board meetings, especially in cases where it could prejudice any disciplinary action. Now, we understand that disciplinary action has concluded against the individuals related in this report, and we’ve asked the health board to provide us with a copy, and we are yet to receive that. But there is a new chair, a new approach, and we do expect to see improvements in that health board."

In July 2025, health secretary Jeremy Miles increased oversight of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board to just below special measures, saying there were "worrying cultural and leadership challenges" and the board needed extra support.

An internal report found staff at the hospital had been involved in drug use, theft and other poor behaviour.

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Plaid Cymru MS Mabon ap Gwynfor says it is "frustrating to see the latest data demonstrated that performance targets for cancer are declining once again".

He elaborates, "in the case of patients in north Wales, the challenge of getting a diagnosis is even worse. One of my constituents, for example, is at high risk of prostate cancer, and therefore needs an urgent positron emission tomography scan, but there are delays of up to eight weeks for that scan because the contract between Ysbyty Maelor, the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee and the providers of this equipment has lapsed. That patient therefore has to travel a long way down to Cardiff".

Eluned Morgan replies, "cancer mortality rates in Wales have improved by 17 per cent over the past 20 years. Five-year net survival rates for all cancers have improved by almost 10 percentage points over the last 15 years. Between December 2024 and November 2025, more than 170,000 people were informed they didn't have cancer."

In terms of the PET scan situation, she adds, "it is for Betsi as a health board to commission or deliver services, including PET scans, for its patients. We're aware of ongoing contractual issues related to the procurement of an outsourced mobile provider that means that the health board is unable to deliver PET scans in the short term. Whilst Betsi is resolving the contractual issue, they've moved quickly to ensure that patients are able to access alternative treatment."

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Plaid Cymru MS Siân Gwenllian seeks an update on plans for new health and wellbeing centres in Arfon.

She says, "almost 10 years ago, when I was elected to the Senedd for the first time to represent the people of Arfon, I raised concerns about deficiencies in the provision of health and care services in Waunfawr and Llanrug in my constituency, and the entirely unacceptable conditions that patients and doctors are required to endure. Shortly afterwards, in 2017, I held a public meeting in another part of the constituency, in Dyffryn Nantlle, to discuss the dire shortcomings of the health facilities in that area. And then, in 2021, the problems in Bangor came to my attention, and I gave my support to a plan to create a brand new health and care facility in the city centre."

She says the "delay is a disgrace and is letting my constituents down as well as the fact that the professional staff are being let down as well".

Eluned Morgan replies, "we had very little capital funding as a government under the Tories. We had very little capital funding available to develop these kinds of things in areas such as Bangor, Waunfawr and Penygroes, but these are now a priority for the north Wales regional partnership board strategic board, and the fact is, as we do now have a government that is committed to investing in capital projects, there is funding in the integration and rebalancing capital fund that is available for these developments, and we look forward to receiving those applications and proposals from Betsi [Cadwaladr University Health Board]. But I do think we need to simplify the process. I think everyone would accept that, but the fact was there is no point simplifying the process unless the funding is available. Now that funding is available for the first time in over a decade."

One of the projects is Canolfan Lleu, which was heralded as an ambitious hub in Penygroes to serve Dyffryn Nantlle, including a broad range of care and support services under one roof. But plans have faced delays and concerns are growing about the project’s future.

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, says "in your speech to the Institute for Government last week, you painted a terrifying picture of the threat to the United Kingdom posed by Plaid Cymru. Yet in recent years, your Welsh government has been joined at the hip to those very same separatists, as you called them, through a co-operation agreement. You have spent literally years letting Plaid Cymru MSs into the inner sanctum of government to help draft your budgets and to dictate your policies and legislation. And that includes the unwanted and unpopular 20 mph default speed limits, the disastrous first draft of the sustainable farming scheme and the vanity projects that you continue to invest in in Uganda."

He says it's "hypocrisy" for the first minister to now warn of the dangers of a Plaid Cymru government after May's election.

Eluned Morgan says she is not going to apologise that the £27.5bn final budget is set to pass today thanks to a Labour-Plaid Cymru deal.

She elaborates, "that is showing practical responsibility - something that you won't be showing this afternoon - because we're going to be putting an extra £1.2 billion on the table to support our public services, and you're not going to be supporting that. You're not going to be supporting bringing those waiting lists down. You're not going to be supporting putting more money into our education system. You're not going to be supporting more money into housing and into transport. Those are the things that matter to the people of Wales. But no, you want to do your posture politicking, and that, frankly, is not where the people of Wales are at."

She says "Labour is the party of devolution. Plaid is the party of independence. There's the difference."

Darren Millar says Labour and Plaid Cymru are "two cheeks of the same miserable face" - with a pause before "face".

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Following lack week's sacking by Conservative group leader Darren Millar of his shadow health secretary James Evans for talking to Reform, his party and Plaid Cymru have 13 members each in the Senedd.

So the two parties will now take turns to ask the first question to the first minister.

Plaid Cymru goes first today for the first time since the 2021 election, which explains the cheer from his members as Rhun ap Iorwerth rises to his feet.

He refers to the Labour UK government's Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's stance that a major overhaul of policing will not see the Senedd given powers to decide how the service is run.

Mahmood's white paper, published on Tuesday, could see the number of forces in England and Wales cut by about two-thirds. An independent review will look at which forces should merge.

When asked in the Commons yesterday whether she agrees that "this package of radical changes is exactly the right time for the devolution of policing to Wales?", in a short reply Shabana Mahmood said: "No, I do not."

Rhun ap Iorwerth also refers to a Welsh Labour MP telling BBC Cymru anonymously: "There is no way policing will be devolved. We may look at probation but that's about it." The MP added that was especially the case "as we don't know who is in charge" after the Senedd election in May.

Rhun ap Iorwerth says "from one week to the next, I struggle to work out which is worse - the blatant disregard towards Wales shown by Labour MPs, or the Labour Welsh government's sheer inability to influence their Westminster colleagues. I'll tell you exactly what I think. This is a Labour Home Secretary in a Labour UK government that doesn't even try to hide its disdain towards Wales and the devolution process."

Eluned Morgan says "this is the biggest restructuring of policing in 200 years... We are not interested in policing to be devolved as a journey to independence, we're interested in making sure that it's about responding to the needs of people within our communities. It's results for people in our communities that matter. I'm focused on jobs, on the NHS, on school support. I am interested in plans for progress, not on shouting from the sidelines."

She adds the Labour-led Welsh government has for years called for policing and criminal justice powers to be devolved to the Senedd.

The Welsh government commission on justice in 2019 , externalargued there was also "no rational basis" for Wales to be treated differently from Northern Ireland and Scotland, where policing is devolved.

Image source, PA Media

Independent MS James Evans raises concerns about "inappropriate use of weight-loss medication in Wales".

He says, "I've been made aware of these drugs being supplied to people without proper clinical oversight. During a recent hospital visit, I was told of an increasing number of admissions of people with serious side effects, which is putting huge pressure on our hospital departments and A&E."

Eluned Morgan replies, "I know a number of people who are using these weight-loss drugs, and a number of people are losing a significant amount of weight as a result, and they swear by them. But, I think we have got to make sure that people understand that, when they come off them, there could be consequences, but also that doing it without adjusting your diet is also going to be difficult when you come off those drugs. I would recommend, to people in Wales who are tempted to go down this path, that they do get the right clinical advice before they undertake these weight-loss drugs."

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Llywydd Elin Jones conducts a ballot to determine the names of members who may table questions to the first minister.

Janet Finch-Saunders, Conservative MS for Aberconwy, seeks "an update on the insourcing of dermatology treatment and endoscopy procedures".

First Minister Eluned Morgan says "in November, 43,800 people were relieved of pain and discomfort as a result of treatment in the Welsh NHS, contributing to the biggest monthly reduction in the waiting list, on record. This government has invested millions this year to reduce waiting lists, including the commissioning of a range of services. including endoscopy and dermatology. We're pleased that this is now paying off, but recognise that the NHS has further to go."

Janet Finch-Saunders says "over the last two or three years, you've had a tendency to cancel contracts when you are insourcing. And this has been apparent in hernia treatment, endoscopy, dermatology, and more. We heard recently about the PET scan - the contract for that has now been cancelled in north Wales. Now, the average waiting time for a first dermatology outpatient is stated as 15 weeks, with 10 per cent of patients waiting more than 50 weeks. I've got constituents who have been waiting well over 100 weeks, and they're just not well. And people are worried".

Image source, Senedd Cymru

Felicity Evans and James Williams will be joined by a panel of politicians and are giving you the opportunity to put your questions to them.

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Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Eluned Morgan’s fiftieth session of First Minister's Questions.

The Siambr (Senedd chamber) has closed for renovations as work is underway on altering it to accommodate the 96 Members who will be chosen in the next Senedd election in May 2026.

So the 60 MSs are meeting in Siambr Hywel, the original debating chamber that housed the then National Assembly for Wales from 1999 to 2006.

The meeting is held in a hybrid format, with some members in Siambr Hywel and others joining by video-conference.

You can click on the play button above to watch the proceedings from 1.30pm.