BBC News - Welsh Labour conference: No U-turn over NHS reforms 23 March 2013 Last updated at 08:48 The Welsh government will not back down over controversial plans to reform the NHS, Carwyn Jones will tell the Welsh Labour conference later. The first minister will tell a gathering of the party faithful in Llandudno there will be no change of course. Proposals to close some smaller hospitals and move services from others have sparked protests around Wales. Mr Jones appointed Mark Drakeford as his new Health Minister last week. The first minister will say there will be no change of policy, and "difficult decisions" will have to be made. He will also tell delegates Labour is in its strongest position since devolution, but the party still needs to change. Now is the time to plan for the future, for our party and our country End Quote Carwyn Jones in a speech to the Welsh Labour conference "Now is the time for us to look to the future," Mr Jones will say. "Renewal should always be about the confidence to change and adapt when you are at your strongest," he is expected to say. Now is the time to plan for the future, for our party and our country. The first minister will also claim that the Welsh government is "standing up for Wales." He will say that his party offers a "genuine alternative" to the coalition government in Westminster. He will add that Labour officials in power in Wales, both in local authorities and the government, are not afraid to "take difficult decisions." UK Labour leader Ed Miliband will address the spring conference on Sunday. Mr Jones made delivery the watchword of his term in office and will tell the conference that his government is succeeding in securing people jobs. Jobs Growth Wales is the government's flagship scheme and aims to give unemployed and job ready 16-24-year-olds an opportunity, by offering them a six-month contract with an employer which is paid for by the government. The first minister will claim the programme has been "eight times more successful" than the coalition government's corresponding scheme. Vision He will say figures show that those who sign up to his scheme are eight times more likely to find employment than those who sign up to the UK government's work programme. Mr Jones has been Welsh Labour leader since the leadership election in 2009, after the resignation of Rhodri Morgan who held the position for nearly a decade. He led his party to a victory of sorts in the 2011 assembly election, winning 30 of the 60 available seats, then deciding to govern alone as a minority government. The latest unemployment figures showed a rise of 7,000 claiming out of work benefits in the three months leading up to January, although the total number is lower than it was this time last year. The Welsh government and the Westminster coalition continuously blame each other for the poor performance of the Welsh economy. Shadow Welsh secretary Owen Smith is the other senior Labour figure on Saturday's agenda. The Pontypridd MP will explain how Labour's "one nation" slogan applies to Wales. New Welsh Health Minister Mark Drakeford is also set to speak on Saturday. Campaigners opposed to Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board's reorganisation plans called off a planned protest at the event.