Shadow Health Minister Andrew RT Davies AM understands the NHS Redress Measure – designed to make it easier and quicker to claim compensation after negligent treatment – is not expected to become active until at least the spring of 2010.

The measure was first proposed in July 2007 and received Royal Assent in July 2008.

Mr Davies accused ministers of dragging their feet and failing patients who received poor treatment on the NHS.

The South Wales Central AM is demanding assurances from the Health Minister that patient rights will not be compromised by the delays.

He said:

“No-one is expecting ministers to rush through bad legislation just to tick a box in their programme for government.

“But we are also not expecting ministers to take three years to bring into force new regulations they put at the heart of their legislative programme.

“The Measure was first proposed in July 2007 and received Royal Assent in July 2008. But it could well be almost July 2010 before it actually comes into force.

“Three years is far too long. My concern is that patient rights may have suffered as a result.

“We need assurances that ministers and officials are doing all they can to bring this Measure into being and that lessons will be learned so that future legislation is introduced in a more timely manner.

“Taking the best part of an entire Assembly term to deliver one piece of legislation is unacceptable and suggests a certain amount of feet dragging by ministers.”

The Cardiff North AM is the first Assembly Member to succeed in receiving approval in principle from the UK and Welsh Assembly Government for a non-government Legislative Competence Order.

If the Order is finally approved by the Assembly and Parliament it has the chance of completing its process by March 2010, which means that competence to legislate will be given to the Assembly.

The draft legislation was formally laid in the Assembly today ahead of a debate and vote by AMs next Wednesday.

Jonathan said: “Devolving powers to Wales over mental health has become something of a personal crusade.

“I have never quite understood why physical health became part of the devolved legislative remit without mental health.

“I suspect it happened this way partly because of the links between mental health and the power of the state to detain patients.

“If this legislation passes and it all works out then Wales has the chance to lead the way in mental health services reform.

“Very often our debates have been around the need for Wales to catch up with the rest of the UK and certainly services here do need to change.

“There may well be a golden opportunity to lead the rest of the UK in reforming this important service, demonstrating how devolution is not about doing things differently for the sake of it, but doing it better.”