James Evans says the Welsh NHS is spending too much money on resolving negligence claims.

The Brecon and Radnorshire MS and Conservative health spokesman asked at the Senedd for a statement from the Health Secretary on findings that the NHS has spent over £700 million on claims over the last 10 years in Wales, with £100 million of that spent last year alone.

He said: “That is a national scandal, and I think it is only right that we have a statement from the Health Secretary on what he's going to do to reduce those claims.

“If we're going to see improvements in our NHS, we need to make sure that money is being spent on the front line and not paying out people on negligence claims.”

The Trefnydd, Jane Hutt, said negligence claims are always regrettable in terms of adult social care.

She told Mr Evans: “We are proud of the delivery of our services and also mindful of the work that's being led by the Adult Social Care Minister in relation to our national care service.

“It is good that we have also Dame Louise Casey doing this work in Westminster, looking at this from a cross-party basis and here in Wales.”

Ms Hutt said a lot of work is being done through the co-operation agreement on developing the national care service stage by stage.

She said: “It is, I hope, a cross-party route that we take in terms of ensuring that we have the capacity and the excellence in adult social care that we know is important to all those we serve in Wales.”