>Kalamikid at 22:28, 5 July 2021

2021-07-05T22:28:19Z

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Altaf Hussain
| honorific-suffix = [[Member of the Senedd|MS]]
| image = Altaf Hussain (Welsh politician).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Hussain in 2017
| office1 = [[Member of the Senedd]] <br /> for [[South Wales West (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|South Wales West]]
| majority1 =
| term_start1 = 6 May 2021
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = [[Suzy Davies]]
| successor1 =
| term_start2 = 19 May 2015
| term_end2 = 5 May 2016
| predecessor2 = [[Byron Davies]]
| successor2 = [[David Lloyd (Welsh politician)|David Lloyd]]
| birth_place = [[Srinagar]], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| restingplace =
| birthname =
| nationality =
| party = [[Welsh Conservative Party|Conservative]]
| otherparty =
| spouse =
| relations =
| children =
| residence = [[Pen-y-fai, Bridgend]]
| education = {{plainlist|
*[[University of Kashmir]], [[Master of Surgery|MS]]
*[[University of Liverpool]], [[M.Ch]].Orth
}}
| occupation = [[Surgeon]]
| profession =
| cabinet =
| committees =
| portfolio =
| religion =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| website = [http://www.altafhussain.wales www.altafhussain.wales]
| footnotes =
}}

'''Altaf Hussain''' is a [[Welsh Conservative]] politician, serving from 2015 to 2016 and again since [[2021 Senedd election|re-elected in 2021]] as the [[Member of the Senedd]] for [[South Wales West (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|South Wales West]]. He is a retired consultant [[orthopaedic surgeon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.welshconservatives.com/news/altaf-hussain-welcomed-new-am |title=Altaf Hussain welcomed as new AM | Welsh |website=Welshconservatives.com |date=2015-05-19 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref> Prior to dissolution of [[Members of the 4th National Assembly for Wales|the fourth assembly]], he sat on the Health Committee at the National Assembly for Wales, and was Shadow Minister for Social Services. He was defeated in the [[2016 National Assembly for Wales election|2016 Welsh Assembly elections]]. In 2017 he was elected to [[Bridgend County Borough Council]]. In January 2018 appointed as Chair of the Brynawel Rehab Board of Trustees UK.

==Education==
Hussain was a medical student at the [[University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir]], where he obtained his [[MBBS]] qualification. In 1972 he graduated as a [[Master of Surgery]] from the [[University of Kashmir]], and in 1982 was awarded a second Master of Surgery degree, in [[Orthopaedic surgery]], by the [[University of Liverpool]].

==Medical career==
Hussain was an orthopaedic surgeon for the [[NHS Wales|NHS]] in Wales before his selection as a [[Welsh Conservative Party]] Assembly candidate,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Doctor-fight-seat-Tories/story-25705254-detail/story.html |title=Doctor to fight Swansea East seat for Tories |newspaper=[[South Wales Evening Post]] |date=2014-12-13 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref> and was based at the [[Prince Charles Hospital]] in [[Merthyr Tydfil]].

As a surgeon, his work in developing the Notch Trial method in total [[knee replacement surgery]]<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Prasad|first1=Kodali|last2=Hussain|first2=Altaf|title=Notch Trial: a unique novel concept in posterior stabilised total knee replacement|journal=Orthopaedic Proceedings|date=14 September 2012|volume=94-B|issue=SUPP XXXVII|page=524|url=http://www.bjjprocs.boneandjoint.org.uk/content/94-B/SUPP_XXXVII/524|accessdate=4 April 2017|issn=2049-4416}}</ref> was showcased at the World Orthopaedic Conference.<ref>[http://www.wales.nhs.uk/siteplus/986/news/21195 ]{{dead link|date=May 2016}}</ref> He also pioneered teaching the thumb index reference technique in [[total hip replacement]] when instructing trainee surgeons.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

He is a recipient of the Best Practice Team Award 2007{{clarify|date=April 2017|reason=Specify who made the award and which area it applied to}} and the [[Glory of India Award]] 2008{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}.

Hussain has worked extensively in his native Kashmir to improve access to healthcare in what he calls 'peripheral areas' and worked closely with the [[Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir|Chief Minister]], [[Mufti Mohammad Sayeed]] in this area. Hussain's obituary of Sayeed and his account of their professional involvement together was published in the newspapers ''[[Greater Kashmir]]'' and ''Rising Kashmir''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.greaterkashmir.com/news/opinion/medicine-to-the-periphery/207332.html |title=Medicine to the periphery |website=M.greaterkashmir.com |date= 20 January 2016|accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Hussain|first1=Altaf|title=Meeting Mufti Sayeed|url=http://risingkashmir.in/news/meeting-mufti-sayeed|accessdate=4 April 2017|work=Rising Kashmir|date=21 January 2016}}</ref>

He remains active in orthopaedic research and continues to deliver lectures on a 'pro bono' basis.

In September 2016-September 2017 Hussain was appointed a trustee of [[Age Cymru]] Swansea Bay.

==Political life==
Hussain has been a supporter of the UK Conservative Party since the 1980s, and has held several offices in the Welsh Conservative Party, including [[Deputy Chairman]] of Bridgend Conservative Association – of which he has been an active member since 2009. Altaf has served on the Board of the Welsh Conservative Party since 2012, when he was elected as chairman for the South Wales West Area.

In the [[2015 United Kingdom general election]] Hussain stood for the [[Welsh Conservative]]s in the [[Swansea East (UK Parliament constituency)|Swansea East]] constituency.<ref>{{cite web|title=Full Welsh results from General Election 2015|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/full-welsh-results-general-election-9212002|website=Wales Online|accessdate=4 April 2017|date=8 May 2015}}</ref>

Having fought the [[2011 National Assembly for Wales election]] as a list candidate in South Wales West, Hussain succeeded [[Byron Davies]] as an AM in 2015 following Byron Davies' election to Westminster.

In 2015 Hussain was reselected by the Welsh Conservative Party as a regional candidate for South Wales West, but was unsuccessful in the [[2016 National Assembly for Wales election|2016 Welsh Assembly elections]].

He has served as a community councillor in [[Pen-y-fai, Bridgend]] since 2011 and is a governor of [[Aberkenfig]] Catholic School.

Hussain was elected as the Welsh Conservative Councillor for Penyfai in the [[2017 Welsh local elections|2017 local government election]] for Bridgend County Borough Council.<ref>{{cite web|title=Election results|url=http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/media-centre/2017/may-2017/election-results.aspx|publisher=Bridgend County Borough Council|accessdate=7 May 2017|date=4 May 2017}}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He has lived in the ward has lived for many years.

Hussain was re-elected to the Senedd at the [[2021 Senedd election|2021 election]], from the regional list for the South West Wales region.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Ruth Mosalski |author2=Sian Burkitt |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/south-wales-west-regional-senedd-20532489 |title=Plaid Cymru and Conservatives take two Senedd seats each in South Wales West region |work=[[Wales Online]] |date=2021-05-07|accessdate=2021-05-09}}</ref>

===Issues and campaigns===
[[File:-SeneddSwansea (22698957172).jpg|thumb|left|Hussain in 2016]]
As an Assembly Member, Hussain has campaigned on a number of local and national issues.

He has worked with [[St John Ambulance in Wales|St John Cymru Wales]] to further their goal of having a 'first aider on every street', running community [[first responder]] training sessions in Swansea<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thewave.co.uk/local/calendar/event/3530/ |title=What's On |publisher=The Wave |accessdate=2016-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610040305/http://www.thewave.co.uk/local/calendar/event/3530/# |archive-date=10 June 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> as well as working to help bring their [[cycle responder]] unit project that has been successfully piloted in Cardiff further west to Swansea and Bridgend.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Bicycle-paramedics-scheme-start-Swansea/story-27558675-detail/story.html |title=Bicycle paramedics scheme to start in Swansea |newspaper=[[South Wales Evening Post]] |date=2015-08-08 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref> He has also campaigned for all schools in Wales to have [[defibrillator]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swanseasound.co.uk/news/local/am-calls-for-defibrillators-in-all-schools/ |title=AM Calls For Defibrillators In All Schools |publisher=Swansea Sound |date=2015-12-15 |accessdate=2016-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304222246/http://www.swanseasound.co.uk/news/local/am-calls-for-defibrillators-in-all-schools/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Hussain has been a strong proponent of improving town centres and reducing unoccupancy rates, speaking out about problems with the road layout of Swansea's Kingsway prior to the council making changes.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wales |first=South |url=http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Bendy-bus-failed-gamble-taxpayers-money-say/story-27802206-detail/story.html |title=Swansea bendy bus service was 'failed gamble with taxpayers money' say Welsh Conservatives |newspaper=[[South Wales Evening Post]] |date=2015-09-15 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref> He has argued in the local press for lower business rates, better parking facilities and against the closure of public toilet facilities. In February 2016 Hussain was criticised by Swansea City Council for calling for the county's education budget to be protected in the latest budget.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Tory-s-school-budget-cut-warning-earns-stiff/story-28707724-detail/story.html |title=Tory AM's school budget cut warning earns stiff rebuke from Swansea Council leader |newspaper=[[South Wales Evening Post]] |date=2016-02-11 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref>

He has also taken a close interest on the impact of energy policy on local communities and presented evidence to the public inquiry into the proposed land exchange deal that would allow for the construction of a wind farm at the Mynydd-y-Gwair site near [[Felindre]] in the north of Swansea, to which he had formally objected.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/10/03/am-formally-objects-to-mynnyd-y-gwair-wind-farm-plan/ |title=AM formally objects to Mynnyd y Gwair wind farm plan | Wind Energy News |website=Wind-watch.org |date=2015-10-03 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref> He has also sought clarity from the [[Welsh Government]] on its policy on underground [[Coal gasification|coal bed gasification]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thewave.co.uk/news/local/concerns-over-coal-bed-gasification/ |title=Concerns Over Coal Bed Gasification |publisher=The Wave |date=2016-02-04 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref> and has supported local campaigns against exploratory drilling.<ref>{{cite web|author = |url=http://heyevent.com/event/po3xwzeqgah3ma/petition-handover-with-dr-altaf-hussain-am |title=Petition Handover with Dr Altaf Hussain AM – |website=Heyevent.com |date=2015-12-05 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref> Hussain has been a supporter of the [[Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon]] proposal<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Swansea-Bay-Tidal-Lagoon-energy-expertise/story-28293972-detail/story.html |title=Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon: 'We have energy expertise on our doorstep' says council leader Ali Thomas |newspaper=[[South Wales Evening Post]] |date=2015-12-04 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref> but has argued that an appropriate [[strike price]] must be agreed first and the project should not be rushed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Don-t-rush-lagoon-deal-warns/story-27976443-detail/story.html |title='Don't rush Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon deal' warns AM Altaf Hussain |newspaper=[[South Wales Evening Post]] |date=2015-10-14 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref>

Hussain regularly speaks on matters related to health and social care, campaigning for pro-active 'stay at home assessments' to be offered to anyone so wanting one upon reaching retirement age which he argues will reduce delays in the transfer of patient care from the hospital to the home care setting and will enable older people to remain for longer in their own homes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clickonwales.org/2015/11/taking-care-to-the-patient/ |title=Blog Archive » Taking care to the patient |publisher=Click on Wales |date=2015-11-18 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref> He has chaired a number of seminars relating to Health and Social Care policy with the Institute of Welsh Affairs and Policy Forum for Wales, of which he is a patron.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.policyforumforwales.co.uk/forums/index.php?fid=policy_forum_for_wales |title=Westminster Forum Projects | Policy Forum for Wales | Events |publisher=Policy Forum for Wales |date= |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref> In March 2016 Hussain announced the new Welsh Conservative policy of capping care home costs and protecting a minimum level of assets for anyone needing residential care at the party's annual conference as part of an integrated approach to Health and Social Care policy by the party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aberdareonline.co.uk/news/rhondda-cynon-taff/providing-security-and-dignity-retirement |title=Providing Security and Dignity in Retirement |website=AberdareOnline |date= |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref>

In January 2016 he was asked to apologise by the First Minister<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-35412686 |title=Poor schools hurt doctor recruitment, says Tory AM |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref> for suggesting that poor standards in Welsh schools were acting as a deterrent to doctors considering moving to Wales<ref>{{cite web|author =Ian Craig |url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/14234343.First_Minister_rejects_doctor_recruitment_problems_claims/?ref%3Drss/ |title=First Minister rejects doctor recruitment problems claims (From South Wales Argus) |website=Southwalesargus.co.uk |date=2016-01-27 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref> but refused, saying that this was a concerned highlighted by bodies representing senior doctors and demanding instead an apology from the First Minister for his government 'taking its eye off the ball' in what became a heated row. He also called for the new system of measuring ambulance response times in Wales to be scrapped, arguing that they produce incomplete data.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cowbridge-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=102812&headline=%E2%80%98Scrap%20ambulance%20response%20system%E2%80%99%20%E2%80%93%20call&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2016 |title='Scrap ambulance response system' – call – The Cowbridge GEM |website=Cowbridge-today.co.uk |date=2016-02-06 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref>

Hussain has spoken out to highlight his opposition to the proposed 'sugar tax'<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.llantwit-major-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=101761&headline=%E2%80%98Sugar%20tax%20is%20harebrained%E2%80%99%2C%20says%20regional%20AM&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2015 |title='Sugar tax is harebrained', says regional AM – The Llantwit Major GEM |website=Llantwit-major-today.co.uk |date=2015-10-29 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref> and as to whether locum doctors' earnings in Wales should be subject to a cap.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.llantwit-major-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=102196&headline=%E2%80%98Cap%20locums%E2%80%99%20earnings%E2%80%99%20says%20ex-NHS%20consultant&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2015 |title='Cap locums' earnings' says ex-NHS consultant – The Llantwit Major GEM |website=Llantwit-major-today.co.uk |date=2015-12-04 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref> He has also expressed his concern about the high levels of anti-depressant prescription by GPs in Wales and called for improved access to [[talking therapies]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cowbridge-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=102993&headline=Former%20surgeon%20%20says%20%E2%80%98tablets%20are%20not%20the%20%20only%20answer%E2%80%99&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2016 |title=Former surgeon says 'tablets are not the only answer' – The Cowbridge GEM |website=Cowbridge-today.co.uk |date=2016-02-19 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref>

Having written a detailed article about winter pressures in the Welsh NHS in December 2016 for [[South Wales Evening Post]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Retired-surgeon-offers-prescription-better-NHS/story-28450619-detail/story.html/ |title=Patients 'may die' on waiting lists this winter says retired surgeon |newspaper=[[South Wales Evening Post]] |date=2016-01-02 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref> The newspaper cited his article in calling for a mature and evidence-driven debate on health as one of '20 things we want to see in Swansea in 2016'.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/20-things-want-Swansea-2016/story-28447108-detail/story.html |title=20 things we want to see in Swansea in 2016 |newspaper=[[South Wales Evening Post]] |date=2016-01-03 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref>

He campaigned against the closure of more hospital beds in the [[Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board]] area.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Hospital-bed-numbers-drop-ABM-Health-Board-region/story-29033555-detail/story.html |title=Hospital bed numbers drop across ABM Health Board region |newspaper=[[South Wales Evening Post]] |date=2016-04-02 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref>

His other campaigns have included ensuring that communities in [[Porthcawl]] are properly protected by the Welsh Government's proposed Shoreline Management Plan,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barry-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=103171&headline=Council%20to%20look%20again%20at%20Newton%20sea%20defences?&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2016 |title=Council to look again at Newton sea defences? – The Barry Gem |website=Barry-today.co.uk |date=2016-03-02 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref> calling for improved classroom access to services for children with [[autism]] and moderate learning difficulties<ref>{{cite news|last1=Irwin|first1=Philip|title=Council hits back after Tories criticise autism education in porthcawl|url=http://www.cowbridge-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=103297&headline=Council%20hits%20back%20after%20Tories%20criticise%20autism%20education%20in%20porthcawl&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2016|accessdate=4 April 2017|work=Cowbridge Gem|date=9 March 2016}}</ref> and facilitating more frequent bus services to communities in [[Gower]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Petition-opposing-bus-service-cut-Gower-700-names/story-27774764-detail/story.html |title=Petition opposing bus service reduction in Gower has 700 names, and counting |newspaper=[[South Wales Evening Post]] |date=2015-09-10 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref>

Hussain has argued that the committee structure of the Welsh Assembly should be strengthened to make the Welsh Government more accountable to AMs as well as for greater media coverage of proceedings in the Chamber.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clickonwales.org/2016/03/a-new-chapter/ |title=Blog Archive » A new chapter |publisher=Click on Wales |date=2016-03-17 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref>

Following the announcement in March 2016 that [[Tata Steel]] was to sell its UK operation, Hussain was amongst a number of elected politicians who argued that the UK government would be right to take a partial stake in the [[Port Talbot]] plant in order to ensure its survival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thewave.co.uk/news/local/politicians-action-call-for-steelworkers/ |title=Politicians' Action Call For Steelworkers |publisher=The Wave |date=2016-03-30 |accessdate=2016-05-11}}</ref>

In June 2016, Hussain organised a public debate on the forthcoming [[EU Referendum]] along with former [[Aberavon]] Welsh Assembly candidate David Jenkins, inviting speakers from both sides to present their arguments at [[Swansea University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/EU-Leave-Remain-campaigners-face-Swansea-Friday/story-29370332-detail/story.html |title=EU Leave and Remain campaigners to face-off in Swansea on Friday evening |publisher=[[South Wales Evening Post]] |date=2016-06-07}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Byron Davies]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Member of the Senedd|Assembly Member]] for [[South Wales West (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|South Wales West]]|years=2015–2016}}
{{s-aft|after=[[David Lloyd (Welsh politician)|David Lloyd]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Suzy Davies]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Member of the Senedd]] for [[South Wales West (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|South Wales West]]|years=2021 to present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{Welsh AMs 2011-2016|state=collapsed}}
{{Current MSs|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hussain, Altaf}}
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Conservative Party members of the Senedd]]
[[Category:Wales AMs 2021–]]
[[Category:Wales AMs 2011–2016]]
[[Category:British politicians of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Wales]]
[[Category:People from Srinagar]]
[[Category:Welsh people of Kashmiri descent]]

Altaf Hussain (Welsh politician) - Revision history

>Kalamikid at 22:28, 5 July 2021