Welsh Conservatives have called for urgent action to resolve the ongoing health visitor strike in Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.
Shadow Minister for Health and Social Care, Natasha Asghar MS, has written to both the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care and the Chief Executive of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board demanding fresh intervention to end the dispute.
Since Natasha’s initial letter to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care in May about the dispute – in which the Cabinet Minister said he was “encouraging” both parties to find an end to the action – it has now been found that the First Minister, in his capacity as Leader of Plaid Cymru, wrote to the Health Board on 17th April, to intervene in the dispute.
In her letters, Ms Asghar highlights evidence that the dispute has already had a significant impact on frontline services, with referrals from health visitors to social services falling to just 25 during the industrial action, compared to 230 in the same period in 2025.
There are also reports that only 300 of an expected 8,000 health visitor contacts were completed within one month because of industrial action.
Ms Asghar has urged the Welsh Government to press the Health Board to reach an agreement as quickly as possible and has called on the Health Board to resume urgent talks to bring the dispute to an end.
Natasha Asghar MS, Shadow Minister for Health and Social Care, said:
"This dispute has now dragged on for six months, with no resolution in sight and it is children and families who are paying the price.
“Health visitors play a vital role in safeguarding vulnerable children, supporting new parents and identifying problems before they escalate, yet many of these services are now being severely disrupted for months on end.
“The now First Minister wrote to the Health Board back in April to intervene in the dispute, so I’m at a loss as to what’s changed with the Cabinet Minister’s approach since the election.
"It is simply unacceptable that referrals to social services and routine contacts have fallen so dramatically while this dispute continues.
“The Welsh Government and the Health Board must show leadership, get all parties back around the table and work urgently to reach a fair agreement.”
Andrew RT Davies MS, Senedd Member for the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend, added:
"Health visitors deserve to be treated with respect, but above all we must ensure that children and families receive the support they need. This dispute has gone on for far too long.
"I urge the Health Board and the Welsh Government to resolve this dispute without further delay so that children and vulnerable families receive the support they need."
