With more people dying each year and many spending their final days in institutions, researchers argue that wider access to palliative care could offer a more humane and cost-effective alternative, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
ON March 24 2025 the Health and Social Care Act was placed on the statute books and Wales became the first UK nation to stop companies delivering care for children from making a profit.
The move, which was part of the 2021 manifesto, could be one of the most radical actions of the Welsh Labour administration. The legislation means that from April next year, no new for-profit providers can be commissioned to provide children’s care in Wales. By April 2027, care must be provided by not-for-profit organisations, charities or councils.
The move met predictable opposition in some quarters — most notably the for-profit providers. But with profit margins of up to 22 per cent that selfish hostility was to be expected.
Wales is second from the bottom in terms of cultural services in the EU. HELEDD FYCHAN believes that needs to change if the country is to prosper
When privatisation is already so deeply embedded in the NHS, we can’t just blindly argue for ‘more funding’ to solve its problems, explain ESTHER GILES, NICO CSERGO, BRIAN GIBBONS and RATHI GUHADASAN



