Senedd Elections 2026: What do party manifestos mean for health, social care and communities in Wales?

With the 2026 Senedd elections approaching, political parties across Wales have begun setting out their priorities for the next term of office. Manifestos from all the major political parties offer insight into how each one intends to respond to growing pressures on health and social care.

Over recent months, we have also set out our own priorities for the next Welsh Government, grounded in frontline experience and the voices of those who use our services. These focus on prevention, access, integration and ensuring that lived experience is at the heart of decision-making.

So, what do the parties’ priorities look like?

What we like

There is clear and welcome consensus across political parties on several key areas.

Prevention and early intervention

Across the political spectrum, including Welsh Labour, the Greens, and the Welsh Liberal Democrats, there is strong emphasis on shifting towards prevention and early support. Proposals include expanding community-based services, strengthening support for young people, and addressing wider determinants of health such as poverty and housing.

Integration and joined-up care

Commitments to improve integration between health and social care are evident in manifestos from Welsh Labour, Plaid Cymru, Reform UK, and the Welsh Conservatives. While approaches differ – from structural reform to improved coordination – there is shared recognition that fragmentation remains a key challenge.

Workforce development and carers

Support for the workforce and unpaid carers is also a consistent theme. Welsh Labour, Plaid Cymru, and the Welsh Conservatives all include commitments relating to pay, training, and recognition of carers, while the Welsh Liberal Democrats highlight the need to close the gap between carers’ rights and the reality on the ground.

What we want to see more of

Even though there are positive signals, several areas remain underdeveloped.

Delivery and accountability

While ambition is clear across all parties, detail on how commitments will be delivered is often limited. Questions remain around funding, implementation, and accountability.

Lived experience and co-production

Although most parties reference engagement, there is less clarity on how people with lived experience will be meaningfully involved in shaping services and policy. This needs to be a priority for any future Welsh Government genuinely interested in improving services.

Complex needs and system gaps

There is comparatively less focus on people with co-occurring needs, including those experiencing both mental ill health and substance use challenges, with little mention of such issues in any party manifesto despite the clear evidence of gaps in support.

Conclusion

Across manifestos from Welsh Labour, Plaid Cymru, Welsh Conservatives, Welsh Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and Reform UK, there is clear recognition that the system must change. Commitments on prevention, integration, and workforce development are encouraging.

The challenge now is delivery. We call upon whoever plays a part in the next Welsh Government to prioritise the mental health of the people of Wales; be that those with poor mental well-being, serious mental illness, addictions and substance use issues, or those who provide unpaid care.

As a long-established organisation working across Wales, and across multiple sectors, to support and empower people with the most complex of needs, Adferiad believes in providing the quickest and easiest route to recovery. You can read more about our five priorities for the next Welsh Government here.

As 7^th May approaches, there is an opportunity for all parties to move beyond high-level ambition and set out credible, fully costed, and accountable plans. The next Welsh Government will need not only to set a direction, but to demonstrate how meaningful, lasting change will be achieved.

Click the links below to read the parties’ manifestos:

Welsh Labour
Plaid Cymru
Welsh Conservatives
Welsh Liberal Democrats
Green Party Wales
Reform UK