Sara Crowley

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1. 5. 90-second Statements en

   Dirprwy Lywydd, this month marks Menopause Awareness Month, and on Sunday just gone, we recognised World Menopause Day. Until recently, when I thought about menopause, I naively pictured what I assume many people do: women of a certain age, hot flushes and many a conversation about the temperature of a room. Perhaps that highlights a lack of appropriate education around menopause growing up. I was wrong, and I'm learning that the hard way. Menopause can cause chronic pain, but also cognitive and mental health challenges that can affect work, relationships and everyday life. And for women who are neurodivergent, in particular those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, those changes can bring additional challenges that we need to understand and talk about too. We also need to challenge the assumption that menopause only happens to women of a certain age. I want to take this moment to acknowledge premature ovarian insufficiency, or POI—something I had never heard of until I was diagnosed with it at 36. This coming Sunday marks the second-ever World POI Day, which in itself shows how much more awareness and understanding is still needed. Dirprwy Lywydd, I'll say it again: this Chamber works best when we use our time to shine a light on aspects of people's lives that too often go under the radar. So, to those living with menopause and POI, you deserve to be listened to, understood and supported. And during my time here, I will do what I can to make sure these experiences are seen, heard and taken seriously. Diolch yn fawr.

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

   I declare an interest as somebody who lives with diabetes and has worked in diabetes care. Our specialist diabetes teams in Wales deserve enormous credit for the progress they've made in giving people access to new diabetes technology. What we need to appreciate is that Wales has made that progress without the same dedicated injection of implementation funding that we have seen in England. That is a success story for Wales and, above all, for our NHS staff, but we must be careful that their success is not used as evidence that they can simply continue to do more with the same resources. First Minister, how will the Welsh Government build on that success and ensure that our specialist workforce has the investment it needs so that Wales can continue to improve access to life-changing diabetes technology? Diolch.

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2. 4. Statement by the First Minister: 60th Anniversary of the Aberfan Disaster en

   Llywydd, the story of Aberfan is woven into the collective memory of our Valleys. My grandfather, like so many others, walked over the mountains from Penrhiwceiber that day to help. That instinct to come together, to care for one another and to act when people need help has shaped how I think of Aberfan. Recent pieces this week, such as Aberfan: The Village That Fought Back, The Silent Volunteer and Aberfan: A Family Story are powerful reminders across different mediums that Aberfan is not only a story of tragedy, but of a community that fought and fights for justice and refused to be ignored. Yesterday, speaking at the University of South Wales, Jeff Edwards, as we mentioned, the last schoolchild rescued from the rubble, spoke powerfully about his experience and the lessons that could never be forgotten. The courage and resilience of survivors, families and campaigners and the determination to hold powerful institutions to account are the extraordinary part of Aberfan's legacy. First Minister, do you agree that one of Aberfan's most enduring lessons is the power of communities standing together, not only in the face of tragedy, but in the pursuit of justice?

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1. 1. Questions to the First Minister en

   Prif Weinidog, I think it's important to challenge the suggestion that nothing has been done on this issue. Plaid Cymru Members have repeatedly raised the dispute with the health board in the Senedd and through the Health and Social Care Committee. The health Minister has engaged with both sides and consistently called for a resolution. The Minister has also been clear that this is not a dispute he can simply impose a settlement on, and the frustration felt by the health visitors is shared across this Chamber. What this long-running dispute does raise, however, is wider concerns about governance and accountability. When concerns can persist for years despite scrutiny and repeated calls for resolution, we must ask whether the warning signs should have been identified much earlier. What lessons is the Government drawing more widely about strengthening leadership and accountability across NHS Wales to prevent disputes reaching this stage in future? Diolch.

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1. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care cy

   Dwi'n moyn rhoi ar y cofnod fy mod i'n estyn fy nghariad tuag at unrhyw riant neu deulu estynedig sydd wedi delio â hwn. Wythnos diwethaf, mynychais uwch-gynhadledd Colli Babi a Thu Hwnt yma yn y Senedd, a drefnwyd gan Better Maternity Cymru. Hoffwn gydnabod yr ymgyrchwyr, yr elusennau a'r bydwragedd profedigaeth a oedd yn bresennol o fy etholaeth fy hun, gan gynnwys Danika o William's Embrace, Jade o Sefydliad Mitchell a Ruth o Sands Merthyr. Mae llawer ohonynt yn rhieni mewn profedigaeth eu hunain ac yn defnyddio eu profiad personol a'u harbenigedd i wella'r gofal a ddarperir i deuluoedd eraill. Rwy'n croesawu ymrwymiad y Gweinidog i wella gofal mamolaeth a gofal profedigaeth, a'n huchelgais ar y cyd i sicrhau bod teuluoedd yn cael y cymorth sydd ei angen arnynt. Wrth wrando ar rieni a gweithwyr proffesiynol, daeth yn amlwg pa mor bwysig yw sicrhau bod gan y rhai sy'n cefnogi teuluoedd yr adnoddau sydd eu hangen i barhau â'r gwaith hwn. Mae bydwragedd profedigaeth yn darparu gofal arbenigol hanfodol a chymorth parhaus, ond lle mae'r gwaith hwn yn gyfrifoldeb ar un unigolyn neu ddau unigolyn yn rhannu'r un swydd, mae capasiti yn gyfyngedig.

   Official English translation

   I'd like to put on record that I am sending my love to any parent or family member who have dealt with this. Last week, I attended the Babyloss and Beyond summit here in the Senedd, organised by Better Maternity Cymru. I'd like to recognise the campaigners, the charities and bereavement midwives who attended from my own constituency, including Danika from William's Embrace, Jade from the Mitchell Foundation and Ruth from Merthyr Sands. Many of them are bereaved parents themselves and use their personal experience and expertise to improve the care provided to other families. I welcome the Minister's commitment to improving maternity care and bereavement care, and our shared ambition to ensure that families receive the support they need. While listening to parents and professionals, it became clear how important it is to ensure that those who support families have the resources that they need to continue with this work. Bereavement midwives provide essential specialist care and ongoing support, but in cases where this work is the responsibility of one individual or two individuals sharing one job, capacity is limited.

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2. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care cy

   Wrth gwrs. A all y Gweinidog nodi sut y bydd y Llywodraeth yn sicrhau bod pob bwrdd iechyd yn darparu cymorth profedigaeth cyson o ansawdd uchel, gan sicrhau lefelau staffio a chapasiti bydwragedd profedigaeth safonol, fel bod pob teulu yn cael profiad cyson o'r un safon ym mhob cwr o Gymru? Diolch yn fawr. Sori am fynd dros amser.

   Official English translation

   Of course. Can the Minister set out how the Government will ensure that all health boards provide consistent bereavement support of high quality, ensuring standard staffing levels and bereavement midwife capacity, so that families have a consistent experience of the same standard of care in all parts of Wales? Thank you very much. Sorry for going over time.

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3. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   2. Pa gynnydd mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o ran gwella effeithlonrwydd ynni cartrefi ym Mhontypridd Cynon Merthyr? OQ64660

   Official English translation

   2. What progress has the Welsh Government made on improving the energy efficiency of homes in Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr? OQ64660

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4. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning cy

   Diolch, Weinidog Cabinet. Rwy'n croesawu ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru ynghylch cartrefi cynnes ac effeithlonrwydd ynni. Gwyddom fod cartref cynnes, diogel a fforddiadwy yn sylfaenol i fywyd iach a hapus, ac eto mae tlodi tanwydd yn parhau i fod yn her sylweddol mewn cymunedau ledled Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr. Mae cyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf wedi nodi bod tua 65 y cant o gartrefi yn ynni aneffeithlon, sy'n adlewyrchu'r stoc dai hŷn yn yr ardal, tra bod tlodi tanwydd yn parhau i effeithio'n anghymesur ar deuluoedd incwm isel, pobl anabl a phreswylwyr hŷn. Sut y bydd cynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru o fudd i aelwydydd ym Mhontypridd Cynon Merthyr yn benodol? A pha gamau sy'n cael eu cymryd i sicrhau y bydd y gwaith o wella effeithlonrwydd ynni yn helpu i ostwng biliau ynni, gwella iechyd a lles pobl a sicrhau gostyngiad parhaol mewn tlodi tanwydd? Diolch.

   Official English translation

   Thank you, Cabinet Minister. I welcome the Welsh Government's commitment regarding warm homes and energy efficiency. We know that a warm, safe and affordable home is fundamental to a healthy and happy life, yet fuel poverty remains a significant challenge in communities throughout Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr. Rhondda Cynon Taf council has noted that around 65 per cent of homes are energy inefficient, which reflects the area's older housing stock, while fuel poverty continues to disproportionately affect low-income families, disabled people and older residents. How will the Welsh Government's plans benefit residents in Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr? And what action is being taken to ensure that work to improve energy efficiency will help to reduce bills, improve people's health and well-being and ensure a permanent reduction in fuel poverty? Thank you.

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1. 7. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women's Health: Improving Family-centred Neonatal Care in Wales: Progress Towards the Bliss Baby Charter en

   Diolch. Following on from psychological support, this question will be timely. Deputy Minister, I welcome the progress being made towards the Bliss baby charter, but family-centred neonatal care can only succeed if the specialist workforce is there to support families when they need it most. In my constituency of Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr, the experience of Chloe and her son Theo illustrates why this is so important. After Theo was admitted to neonatal intensive care in Merthyr Tydfil shortly after birth, Chloe spoke about the fear, anxiety and trauma that followed, and how those feelings stayed with her long after Theo came home. She has said that access to specialist psychological support could have helped her process that experience and lessen its lasting impact on her family. Bliss has found a 62 per cent shortfall in neonatal allied health professionals, psychology and pharmacy staffing across Wales, with the shortfall in psychology provision standing at 90 per cent, the second highest in the UK. Given that Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board currently has no neonatal psychologist provision in either Merthyr or Bridgend, what specific action is the Welsh Government taking to address these workforce gaps? Will you, Deputy Minister, commit to ensuring that psychological support is a central and properly funded part of delivering the Bliss baby charter in Wales? Diolch o galon.

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1. 4. Statement by the First Minister: 'New Ambition for Wales: Programme for Government 2026-2030' cy

   Brif Weinidog, rwy'n croesawu'r rhaglen lywodraethu, ac yn enwedig y gwaith i wreiddio iechyd cyhoeddus ac iechyd ataliol ar draws y Llywodraeth. Un o'r heriau parhaus yw bod manteision cael rhaglen iechyd ataliol yn aml yn cael eu gwireddu flynyddoedd ar ôl i'r buddsoddiad gael ei wneud, tra bod y pwysau ar wasanaethau acíwt yn rhai uniongyrchol ac ar unwaith. Wrth ystyried hynny, sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau bod rhaglenni iechyd ataliol, boed hynny ym maes gweithgarwch corfforol, bwyd iach, y blynyddoedd cynnar, neu fynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd, yn cael eu diogelu a'u blaenoriaethu pan fydd cyllidebau o dan gymaint o bwysau? A pha fesurau y byddwch chi'n eu defnyddio i ddangos bod iechyd ataliol yn llywio penderfyniadau cyllido ar draws y Llywodraeth? Diolch.

   Official English translation

   First Minister, I welcome the programme for government, and particularly the work to embed public health and preventative health across Government. One of the ongoing challenges is that the benefits of having a preventative health programme are often delivered years after the investment is initially made, whilst the pressure on acute services is direct and immediate. In considering that, how will the Welsh Government ensure that preventative health programmes, be that in physical activity, healthy eating, the early years, or tackling health inequality, are safeguarded and prioritised when budgets are under such pressure? And what measures will you put in place to show that preventative health is steering budgetary decisions across Government? Thank you.

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1. 6. Reform UK Debate: Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board health visitor pay dispute en

   I have written and rewritten this contribution because I want to support health visitors as strongly and constructively as I can. I also want to make a declaration that I did work nationally for the NHS before coming into this post. Some are my constituents and all provide care, support and reassurance to families across the communities served by Cymru Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. At its heart, this dispute is about people: the health visitors who feel undervalued and unheard; the children and families who rely on their support; and the communities that depend on a strong, trusted and sustainable health visiting service. The past few months have been deeply difficult. I know that decisions health visitors have faced have not been taken lightly. Some have contacted me directly, and I have spoken to others on the steps of the Senedd and followed what has been shared publicly. I have heard their frustration, I see the anger, and I recognise the pressure and the hurt this dispute has caused. Nor is it lost on me that once again we find ourselves debating the value of highly skilled work carried out predominantly by women. Health visitors support new parents through some of the most challenging periods of their lives. They safeguard vulnerable children, identify concerns before they become crises, and provide vital reassurance when families need it most. That work deserves recognition and full respect. As a first-time mother to twins during the pandemic, our health visitor was one of the very few people who met my children during the first half of the year they were born. At a time that was isolating and uncertain, she was an immense source of support, reassurance and practical guidance when we couldn't see many of our own family members. That experience showed me just how important health visiting services are. For many families, particularly those experiencing poverty, isolation and vulnerability, that early intervention and support can make a lifelong difference. They are highly skilled professionals and that carries significant responsibility. They make difficult judgments every day and play a vital role in building strong and resilient communities, yet many see the value of that expertise not being fully recognised. I understand why this causes frustration. But these concerns are rooted in local circumstances and local decisions. A lasting resolution will come through meaningful negotiation, not an externally imposed settlement. Unite must continue to engage constructively and in good faith, but the primary responsibility for rebuilding trust and resolving this dispute rests with the health board. Looking beyond the immediate dispute, we must remain open-minded about the future of health visiting services, including the case for progression to band 7 and band 8 nationally. But any such decision must be grounded in robust clinical evidence, and that is why I welcome the work commissioned by the chief nursing officer as an important first step. While this work continues, the priority must be a fair and durable resolution; one that recognises the value of health Ministers—sorry, 'health visitors'; it's been a long day—and that restores confidence for families. Diolch yn fawr.

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1. 7. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women's Health: Putting Women, Babies and Families at the Heart of Safety: The implementation of Call for Concern in Maternity and Neonatal Services en

   I really welcome today's statement on the expansion of the Call for Concern into maternity and neonatal services. And since being elected, I've heard from far too many families who have raised concerns about their own health or their partner's health, as well as that of their baby, but felt that they weren't listened to or taken seriously, as we've heard multiple times, and, as we know, sometimes with devastating consequences. In preparation for today's statement, I've been made aware of staff working in adult in-patient wards in Cwm Taf Morgannwg, where Call for Concern is already in place, who have never heard of it. And I'm concerned that if staff aren't aware of the service, patients and families may not be either. So, I wonder if I could ask how the Welsh Government is working with health boards, and have a little bit more detail on that, to make sure that everybody involved, from the patient, families and staff, know about Call for Concern and have the information and training, and also how we make sure that families feel able to escalate those concerns without worrying that they're being difficult, or that it will affect their care. Diolch.

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1. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care cy

   6. Pa gymorth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ddarparu i helpu rhieni i ddychwelyd i'r gwaith yn dilyn diagnosis o gyflwr iechyd difrifol i blentyn? OQ64398

   Official English translation

   6. What support is Welsh Government providing to help parents return to work following a diagnosis of a serious health condition for a child? OQ64398

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2. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care en

   Diolch, Weinidog. Last week, I met with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, and I want to declare an interest: I have worked with this health board before when I worked at NHS Wales Performance and Improvement. So, last week, I met with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board's paediatric team to discuss the socioeconomic impact of a type 1 diabetes diagnosis in children and young people. I met with Ansruta Vijay Anand and Dr Ambika Shetty, and I'm very grateful for the work that they have both done in this area. Ansruta is a medical student, and she spoke to me about her research. Her findings were striking. In 68 per cent of cases where a child was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, there was a change to a parent's employment. This included reduced working hours, taking temporary leave from work and in some cases leaving employment altogether. And while this is recent research, I know that that anecdotally goes back decades as being other people's experiences as well. They also found that many children experience a significant delay in returning to school, nursery or other childcare settings following their diagnosis. Over the past decade, the number of children diagnosed with diabetes has increased by 29 per cent—

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3. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care en

   Given this evidence, what work is the Welsh Government undertaking to support families following a child's diagnosis of type 1 diabetes? And can I thank every person who works in the NHS, regardless of where they were born, for the work that they do for us? Diolch yn fawr.

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1. 6. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Ophthalmology services en

   For the record, I wish to declare a personal interest. I previously gave evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee's inquiry into ophthalmology services based on my lived experience of sight loss, and I remain a patient under ophthalmology services. I grew up knowing that, as somebody with type 1 diabetes, sight loss was a very real possibility. By the age of 26, that possibility had become reality when I experienced a vitreous haemorrhage whilst on holiday in Italy. Losing my sight was frightening; waiting to find out whether it could be saved was, in many ways, even harder. After 18 months of treatment, referrals and uncertainty, my surgeon told me, when I finally underwent surgery, that I was likely only a week away from permanent sight loss. I can't say that I was suicidal, but there were many times where I genuinely questioned how much more waiting and how many more setbacks I could endure. That experience showed me something that statistics alone never can—what it actually feels like to live on a waiting list. But if we only measure the wait, we miss the experience of waiting, so perhaps we should ask not only how long people are waiting, but what is happening to them whilst they wait. For me, the impact went far beyond my eyesight: discrimination at work, unfair dismissal, my mental health deteriorated into severe depression, I had to pay my way for a tribunal because of a Tory Government in the UK at the time, and I became overwhelmed by anxiety, thinking I'd never be employed again. Every day I woke up questioning whether I would permanently lose my sight before the system reached me. But today, I want to challenge us all to think differently about waiting lists. Because I was not simply waiting for treatment, I was waiting to know whether my sight could be saved. The waiting itself causes harm. The silence causes harm, and the lack of communication causes harm. When you're on a waiting list, every gap in information is filled by fear: has my referral gone through? Has it been lost? Have I been forgotten about? What's happening while I wait? I remember receiving an appointment letter and a cancellation letter for the very same appointment on the same day on more than one occasion. Every appointment brought hope, every cancellation brought further fear. Soon, even letters citing 'unforeseen circumstances' became predictable. And that fear has a cost—a human cost, a social cost and, ultimately, a financial cost too. I do not believe for one moment that healthcare professionals do not care. My experience has shown me the exact opposite. The problem is that, too often, they are working within systems that leave people waiting too long with too little information, too little support, and too much uncertainty. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this debate. Of course we need to reduce waiting times and of course we need more capacity, and we should be looking at surgical hubs, centres of excellence and more consistent services across Wales. But I would also ask the Minister a simple question: if we cannot eliminate every waiting list tomorrow, can we at least ensure that nobody feels forgotten while they are on one? What if every patient on a waiting list had access to someone who understood not just the condition, but the experience, someone who had walked the same path, faced the same uncertainty and had come out the other side? Because good healthcare does not begin when treatment starts. Good healthcare begins the moment somebody enters the system. Some of us remember when Twitter was a good place, a place where support saw no health board boundaries. Over the years, I lost count of the number of people who contacted me through social media, distraught after receiving a letter telling them that they had background retinopathy. Often, all they needed at that point was reassurance that they were not alone, guidance on questions to ask, and to understand what might happen next. Many understandably assumed the worst without realising that, with the right intervention and support at that point, the condition at that stage can be stabilised. Their anxiety did not disappear, but it became more manageable. They felt informed, more confident and better able to engage with their care. We rightly value experts by occupation. Our clinicians, nurses and healthcare professionals do remarkable work every day. But we should also value experts by experience. One understands the condition, the other understands what it's like to live with it, and the strongest systems recognise the value in both. I needed that support and I gave it to others because they needed it too. Dirprwy Lywydd, there are people in Wales today who are where I once was: waiting, frightened, isolated, uncertain, and this is why this motion matters. Because ophthalmology waiting lists are not just administrative backlogs, they are people's independence, mental health, jobs, futures and lives. We owe them a system that recognises a simple truth: we often focus on the length of the wait, but we rarely acknowledge the damage that waiting can do. The waiting list was not the only thing harming me; the waiting itself was harming me. Today I'm grateful for the opportunity this Senedd has given me to speak out about an experience that, for a long time, I struggled to talk about. And again, I'm going to say I believe this Chamber is strongest when it listens to lived experience, confronts difficult truths, works together for the people of Cymru, and turns motions into meaningful change. That is why I ask every Member to support this motion today. Diolch yn fawr.

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1. 1. Questions to the Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport en

   Minister, within my first few days of being elected, I was contacted by Breakthrough T1D, a third sector charity supporting people living with diabetes. In light of the barriers faced by people with long-term health conditions such as diabetes, including low awareness, safety concerns and a lack of confidence among coaches, Sport England is already exploring inclusive practice guidance. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure sporting bodies in Wales are properly equipped to support participation? And will it work with Sport Wales to adopt or align with the principles of inclusive practice, please?

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2. 5. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Stillbirth and neonatal mortality en

   Diolch. Before I begin, I wish to declare a personal interest. Unbeknown to me when I tabled this debate, members of my wider family are today going through this very situation. While that is a separate and deeply personal matter, I want to begin with the story of a baby boy called Gwilym. Six months ago today, on Christmas Eve, Gwilym died at just 11 days old. His parents, Brooke and Wil, from Pontypridd in my constituency, spent those 11 days doing what every new parent does: loving their son, getting to know him and looking forward to the future they believed lay ahead of them. Instead, they were left facing the unimaginable reality of saying goodbye to Gwilym and trying to understand why he died. In the six months since his devastating loss, they have worked tirelessly alongside other bereaved parents and organisations, such as Sands, to campaign for changes that will help save babies' lives and improve support for bereaved families across Wales. Gwilym's story is heartbreaking, but, sadly, it's not unique. Every year families across Wales experience the devastation of stillbirth, neonatal death and pregnancy loss. Behind every statistic is a much-loved baby, sometimes babies, a grieving family and a future changed forever. This is why this debate matters, and that is why I am proud to open this debate on saving babies' lives. I would like to thank my co-submitters, Elyn Stephens and Vikki Howells, and Members across the Siambr for their support on this very important issue. As a newly elected Member, it is a privilege to open my first debate on a matter that affects every community across Wales. This motion recognises a reality that should concern every Member of the Senedd. Wales continues to have the highest stillbirth rate in the United Kingdom. There has been no sustained reduction in stillbirths since 2018, and too many families continue to experience the trauma of losing a baby. More than 1,000 babies in Wales may have survived between 2019 and 2023 had outcomes matched those of the best performing countries in Europe. We should never accept this as inevitable, because this is not just about understanding the problem, it is about preventing it and saving babies' lives wherever possible. We have to ask why this is the case in Wales, recognising that baby loss can occur for many reasons, including infection, complications in pregnancy and wider health factors often beyond anyone's control. But we must also look widely at the factors that we can influence, such as inequality and maternal health, and ensuring that women, particularly those at higher risk, receive the support they need before, during and after pregnancy. This includes, for example, women living with conditions such as diabetes, in particular type 1 diabetes, a condition I've lived with for over 35 years, and one that did influence my own fertility decisions, where we know that improving access to specialist support and modern technologies represents one of the clearest opportunities to reduce risk and improve outcomes for both mother and baby. However this goes wider than any one condition. It is about how we support women's health overall and how we work across Government to address the inequalities and wider health challenges that too often shape outcomes in Wales. Every family deserves the best possible care during pregnancy and birth. Every baby deserves the best possible chance of a healthy start in life. But we must also recognise that, despite our best efforts, not every loss can be prevented, and when the worst does happen, every bereaved family deserves compassionate, consistent, high-quality support from trained and experienced professionals alongside organisations such as Sands. In preparation for this debate, I had the privilege of meeting bereaved parents, including Ruth and Jess, members of the Sands Cymru parents campaign group, who, despite their own loss, have spent years working to improve care for families across Wales. Ruth is a befriender with Sands Merthyr and a mother to twins, George and Henry. She has supported parents facing heartbreak—. Sorry, I'm a mother to twins as well. She has supported parents facing heartbreak, while continuing to campaign for improvements in care. Her strengths reflect not only her loss, but the love she carries for both of her sons. Jess runs the baby loss support group in the Vale of Glamorgan and is the mother of Megan Jane. Through her group, she has created a space where bereaved parents can come together, share their experiences and support one another. The care she offers is shaped by the love she holds for her daughter. What struck me most was that, despite everything they have been through, they continue to give so much to others. Listening to them speak so passionately makes it clear why this debate matters, because behind every statistic is a much-loved baby and a family whose life has been changed forever.

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3. 5. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Stillbirth and neonatal mortality en

   It was clear from speaking to families that the loss does not end, it continues. Too often, the grief is carried in silence, because the stigma surrounding baby loss can make it difficult to speak openly. Parents are living their lives while grieving the life they should have lived, the milestones never reached, the moments never lived, not just in childhood, but every year that follows. For some families, their grief places immense strain on relationships, changing the course of lives in ways that are difficult to articulate. So, today, this debate is not only about remembering babies such as Gwilym, George, Henry and Megan Jane, and every baby whose life has been tragically cut short, it is about honouring their memory by asking what more can be done to save lives, reduce inequalities and ensure that bereaved families receive the care and support they need, wherever they live in Wales. When a family experiences the devastating loss of a baby, they must be able to access the high-quality bereavement care and support they need. Sadly, this is not the reality for many in Wales. Research by Sands found that only a very small proportion of bereaved parents in Wales were able to access the support they wanted through the NHS or charities, whilst more than a third were unable to access support at all. This must change, and we have the opportunity to do better. I would like to take a moment to recognise the incredible work of charities such as Sands Cymru and 2wish and their staff and volunteers, who give their time to support families when they need it most. These organisations provide vital support at the most difficult times in families' lives. However, access to bereavement support should not depend on the third sector alone. Families should be able to access consistent, high-quality support through the NHS, wherever they live. We must also recognise that bereavement support needs to be available to both parents. Too often, fathers, partners and non-carrying parents can feel invisible in the aftermath of baby loss, despite experiencing profound grief on their own while supporting the person they love. Our services must be designed to meet the needs of the whole family, recognising that every family’s experience and structure is different. I want to mention Rafe, whose dad is listening from the Oriel today, and Seren too, whose family cannot be here. Through their family's loss, they remind us powerfully why this debate matters so much. I therefore welcome the Welsh Government’s commitment to publish the new national bereavement care pathway Cymru. For families struggling to access support today, this publication cannot come soon enough. In responding to this debate, I would welcome further detail from the Deputy Minister on when the pathway will be published and, crucially, how the implementation will be monitored, evaluated and delivered consistently across health boards. While high-quality bereavement care is essential, our ambition must be to reduce the number of families who need that support in the first place. Sadly, the latest MBRRACE-UK state of the nation report shows that Wales still has a long way to go. For the third consecutive year, Wales has the highest stillbirth rate of any other UK nation, with no sustained reduction since 2018. The report also highlights worrying inequalities. Babies born to mothers in the most deprived communities face a significantly higher risk of stillbirth and neonatal death. We also know that inequalities in outcomes exist by ethnicity, and must be addressed alongside deprivation. This cannot be ignored, particularly when more than one in five people in Wales are living in poverty. That is why I believe the Welsh Government should adopt ambitious national targets for reducing stillbirths and neonatal deaths. Wales is currently the only nation without them. We know targets alone will not save lives, but they will provide accountability, focus attention and ensure that reducing baby loss remains a national priority. The Welsh Government has rightly set ambitious targets in other areas, including tackling child poverty and improving economic outcomes. I see no reason why we should not show the same ambition when it comes to saving babies’ lives. During the recent election campaign, many of us were asked by constituents to support the Sands Cymru campaign pledge, a commitment to a future where fewer babies die and all bereaved parents in Wales receive the care and support they need. Of those who signed that pledge, 43 of us now sit in the Senedd, including Ministers. Supporting this motion is one way we can begin to honour that commitment. Today is an opportunity to send a clear message to families across Wales that this Senedd takes baby loss seriously and is committed to improving outcomes. We owe it to the babies no longer with us, we owe it to the families living with this heartbreak and loss, and we owe it to future generations. Let us support bereaved families and let us act together, across the Senedd, to save babies’ lives. I look forward to hearing the contributions from across the Siambr. Diolch yn fawr.

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4. 5. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Stillbirth and neonatal mortality cy

   Diolch, Weinidog, am eich ymateb, a diolch i bob Aelod sydd wedi cyfrannu i'r ddadl yma heddiw. Mae'n amlwg, dwi'n credu, fod cefnogaeth drawsbleidiol gref ar y mater o'r cynnig o'n blaenau heddiw. Er lles yr holl deuluoedd a rhieni—ac rwy'n ymwybodol bod rhai ohonynt yn yr oriel yn gwylio ein trafodaethau heddiw—ac er lles pawb sydd wedi dioddef colled babi—a bydd ystadegau'n dweud bod mwy o fenywod o fewn yr ystafell yma hefyd wedi, a dwi'n rhoi fy nghariad tuag atoch chi i gyd—rwyf wir yn gobeithio y bydd datganiad cryf o blaid y cynnig hwn heddiw yn arwain at weithredu gan y Llywodraeth, ac y bydd y gweithredu hwnnw'n arwain at welliannau i brofiadau teuluoedd ac i'r canlyniadau rydym yn eu gweld wrth edrych ar yr ystadegau brawychus o ran nifer y babanod sy'n marw'n ddiangen ar draws Cymru.

   Official English translation

   Thank you, Minister, for your response, and I thank all Members who have contributed to this debate today. It is clear, I think, that there is strong cross-party support on the topic of the motion before us today. For the sake of all families and parents—and I'm aware that some of them are in the gallery watching our discussions today—and for the sake of everyone who has suffered the loss of a baby—and statistics tell us that more women in this room will have also experienced that, and my heart goes out to all of you—I really hope that a strong demonstration of support for this motion today will lead to action from the Government, and that that action will lead to improvements in the experiences of families and in the outcomes that we see when looking at the alarming statistics in terms of the number of babies who die needlessly across Wales.

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5. 5. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Stillbirth and neonatal mortality en

   I'd like to echo many of the comments made by Members throughout the debate; time is against me and I cannot reference them all. However, in particular, Elyn powerfully spoke about the importance of recognising every baby as an individual and not a statistic, the need for compassionate care that respects families' experiences at every stage, and the strain on staff. Vikki also highlighted the gaps in bereavement and psychological support, and the need for consistent specialist services to be available to families across all health boards in Wales. I want to put on record as well that also includes how we look after people in Powys, because we always say Powys is different, so across all seven health boards. And I also want to thank Andrew, Janet and Jane for sharing. When we share things in this Chamber, other people see it and it really matters, so I'm really grateful and I extend my love to you both for sharing how you did that today as well. Diolch. And I want to thank Sarah as well. And also, an important point was raised about the news that's come out today in relation to Nottingham, and we should be looking there to see what we can do to learn, to ensure that we can give the best possible care to the people of Wales. I acknowledge the Deputy Minister's response and I know that this is an issue that you care deeply about, one that you raised during the sixth Senedd. It is also something that I care deeply about and one I will continue to raise in the Siambr, because I am determined to move beyond fragmented services and towards genuinely joined-up care, care that is seamless across every stage of life and grounded in compassion.  People should not be left to navigate disjointed systems, but supported through clear pathways that meet their physical and mental health needs. And babies—. I've lost myself now. Sorry. When services are not joined up, people are let down, and in the most serious cases, we see avoidable harm, poor maternal outcomes, deteriorating mental health and babies’ lives cut far too short. Where that happens, families must be cared for with compassion and given the space to grieve. This is my first contribution, but it will be one of many where I will work with Ministers to deliver the joined‑up, compassionate care across Wales that people deserve. The real test will be how we translate these commitments into action. Too many babies and families have been let down before. We now have an opportunity here, and we must work together to deliver better outcomes for families across Wales. We need a joined-up approach across Government. A baby’s care spans maternity services, neonatal care, health visiting and wider community support, and Ministers must work together to ensure that nothing falls through the gaps. Within this Siambr, we must all play our part in honouring the pledges we made to families. We owe that to those watching today and online, to every family living with the heartbreak of baby loss, and to Gwilym, Henry, George, Megan Jane, Rafe, Seren and Wyatt, and all babies no longer with us. I said at the beginning that this has, heartbreakingly and unexpectedly, also become a personal matter for me and my family. I want to finish by acknowledging my partner’s cousin Shaun and Olivia, parents of Hudson, who attended his funeral this morning. Hudson, our beautiful baby cousin, who, though born sleeping, is so deeply, deeply loved. Our thoughts are with them, and with every family facing such profound loss. This Senedd will work best when we find the causes where we can put party differences aside and focus on what truly matters. [Members of the Senedd: ‘Hear, hear.’] Thank you. I’d like to see us show that we can do this today, and I urge all Members to support this motion. Diolch yn fawr. [Applause.]

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1. 1. Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality cy

   Diolch, Lywydd, a llongyfarchiadau, Ddirprwy Brif Weinidog.

   Official English translation

   Thank you, Llywydd, and congratulations, Deputy First Minister.

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2. 1. Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality cy

   5. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant ym Mhontypridd Cynon Merthyr? OQ64110

   Official English translation

   5. What action is the Welsh Government taking to tackle child poverty in Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr? OQ64110

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3. 1. Questions to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality en

   For too long, children in Wales have been forced to grow up in poverty, impacting everything from their education and health to their future prospects and even life expectancy. It disproportionately affects children in my constituency, with over 80 per cent of children in one area of Penrhiwceiber in the Cynon valley living in income deprivation compared to the Welsh national average of 38 per cent. I therefore welcome the fact that the Plaid Cymru Government is following the example of Scotland—the only country in the UK where child poverty rates are expected to decrease in future years unless anything drastic changes—by proposing the introduction of the Cynnal payment modelled on the Scottish child payment. Could the Cabinet Secretary confirm whether preparatory work for this scheme has already begun and provide an update on when the pilot will commence, please? Diolch.

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1. 3. Statement by the First Minister: The First Minister's Priorities en

   Diolch, Lywydd. Previous Labour Governments' record left too many people across Wales waiting too long for treatment, and, in Cwm Taf Morgannwg, too many patients continue to face lengthy delays for appointments and care. My constituents across Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr need an NHS that focuses not only on reducing waiting lists, but on delivering faster diagnoses and better outcomes for patients. I know that they will welcome the Government's commitment to reforming how elective care is delivered and improving cancer outcomes across Wales. Will the First Minister, or Prif Weinidog, therefore outline how measures such as dedicated elective care centres, faster diagnostics and greater use of telehealth will help reduce waiting times and improve patient care in communities served by Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board? Diolch.

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