National Assembly for Wales

RCN Wales influences health policy on behalf of its 23,000 members in Wales.

We work with all levels of government including MPs and MEPs to constructively develop health policy that will benefit patients and the nursing family.

RCN Wales attends party conferences, holds regular meetings, responds to policy consultations, briefs Government and Assembly Members and organises political campaigns.

National Assembly for Wales

The National Assembly for Wales consists of 60 Assembly Members (known as AMs). The work of this democratically elected body includes:

scrutinising the decisions of the Welsh Assembly Government (AMs ask ministers questions
passing legislation (eg, the ban on smoking in public places)
acting as a distinct 'voice for Wales'.

Welsh Assembly Government

The Welsh Assembly Governmentis led by the First Minister and a cabinet of ministers. The Welsh Assembly Government's remit includes:

setting the Budget (the 2005 Budget totalled £13.7 billion)
developing policy (eg, free school breakfasts for primary school children)
the operational direction of the NHS in Wales (eg, setting waiting time targets)
creating and abolishing health agencies and assembly sponsored public bodies (eg, LHBs or Care Standards Inspectorate Wales)
proposing 'Legislative Competence Orders" - which is a way of asking the UK government for more powers in certain areas and Measures (the equivalent of UK Acts of Parliament).