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Yn dilyn fy llythyr i’r Aelodau ar 3 Chwefror, rwy’n ysgrifennu atoch i roi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i chi am yr adolygiad cyflym a gomisiynais o gynllun y Bathodyn Glas, gan fod y gwaith bellach wedi dod i ben.

Mae cynllun y Bathodyn Glas yn parhau i helpu tua 7% o boblogaeth Cymru i gyrraedd at wasanaethau a chyfleusterau, o gymharu â Lloegr a’r Alban lle mae llai na 5% o’r boblogaeth â Bathodynnau Glas. Yng Nghymru, mae’r meini prawf cymhwysedd ychydig yn ehangach na rhai Lloegr, yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon. Mae Cymru hefyd yn wahanol ac yn flaengar wrth ganiatáu i bobl â nam gwybyddol ddefnyddio’r Cynllun. 

Awdurdodau lleol sy’n gyfrifol am weinyddu cynllun y Bathodyn Glas yn eu hardaloedd, gan ddefnyddio meini prawf statudol i benderfynu pwy sy’n gymwys.  Maent yn cael eu cefnogi gan ganllawiau anstatudol gan Lywodraeth Cymru a phecyn cymorth i’w helpu i ddilysu ceisiadau. Mae’r pecyn cymorth yn defnyddio’r dystiolaeth sy’n cael ei darparu gan ymgeiswyr, ac nid yw’n disgwyl i awdurdodau lleol wneud penderfyniadau meddygol.  
Canfu’r adolygiad cyflym bod Lloegr a’r Alban eisoes wedi tynnu meddygon teulu o’r broses asesu, a’u bod yn defnyddio asesiadau meddygol annibynnol. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi annog awdurdodau lleol i dynnu meddygon teulu o’r broses asesu, gan fod eu llwyth gwaith yn eithriadol o drwm ac nid yw gofyn iddynt helpu i weinyddu’r cynllun yn ddefnydd da o’u hamser.  

Mae nifer fawr o ymholiadau a cheisiadau wedi dod i law gan Aelodau’r Cynulliad ac aelodau o’r cyhoedd sydd wedi’u siomi bod eu ceisiadau am Fathodynnau wedi’u gwrthod. Mae’r mater hwn wedi achosi cryn bryder i mi, ac fel rhan o’r adolygiad cyflym comisiynais y Gwasanaeth Cynghori Annibynnol i adolygu’r ceisiadau a wrthodwyd mewn ardal sampl yn Abertawe. Gwelodd fod materion penodol yn codi mewn perthynas â’r defnydd o asesiadau meddygol, ac fe nodwyd meysydd lle gellid mireinio’r pecyn cymorth ymhellach i helpu mewn achosion o’r fath.

Rhaid i’r Cynllun gadw’i hygrededd a diwallu anghenion y bobl na fyddai fel arall yn medru cyrraedd at wasanaethau a chyfleusterau. Felly rwyf wedi penderfynu galw grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen ynghyd i ystyried y materion sy’n codi a rhoi argymhellion ynghylch ffyrdd o ddiwygio’r cynllun i sicrhau bod y rhai sydd ei angen yn medru cyrraedd at y gwasanaeth.

Byddaf yn rhoi rhagor o wybodaeth i’r Aelodau ynghylch aelodaeth a chylch gwaith y grŵp ac efallai bydd angen rhoi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Aelodau yn ystod toriad y Pasg.  







Translation:


 
 


Further to my letter to Members of 3 February, I am writing to provide an update in respect of rapid review of the Blue Badge scheme that I have commissioned  now that the work has concluded.


The Blue Badge scheme continues to provide access to services and facilities for approximately 7% of the population in Wales compared to England and Scotland where less than 5% of the population have Blue Badges.  In Wales eligibility criteria is slightly wider than in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland and is distinct in Wales that it leads the way to allow people with cognitive impairments to access the Scheme.


Local authorities are responsible for administering the Blue Badge scheme in their areas using statutory eligibility criteria.  They are supported by non statutory guidance from Welsh Government and a Toolkit to assist in verifying applications.  The Toolkit uses evidence provided by applicants and does not expect local authorities to make medical decisions.


The rapid review identified that both England and Scotland have already removed GPs from the assessment process and use independent medical assessment within the process. The Welsh Government has encouraged local authorities in Wales to remove GPs from the assessment process , their workloads are extremely heavy and using them to support the administration of the scheme is not the best use of their time.  


I have received a large number of queries and requests from Assembly Members and members of the public who have been disappointed when their application for a Badge has been turned down. I have been very concerned by this issue and as a part of the rapid review, commissioned the Independent Advisory Service to review declined applications on the sample area of Swansea. It has identified issues associated with the use of medical assessment and also identified areas where the Toolkit could be further refined to assist in such cases.


The Scheme must maintain its credibility and meet the needs of those people who would otherwise be unable to access services and facilities. I have therefore decided to convene a task and finish group to consider the issues and provide me with recommendations on how the scheme may be revised to ensure those who are in need  have access to the service.


I will provide Members with further information on the Membership, scope and terms of reference of the group and it may be necessary to update Members during the Easter recess.