Lynne Neagle: To achieve this, a broad focus across the spectrum of health and social care and third sector provision is required to make this happen as a whole-system effort. The vision is set out in our quality statement for palliative and end-of-life care, published in October 2022. It sets out the high-level Welsh Government policy intention for children and young people and adult palliative and...
Lynne Neagle: Diolch, Llywydd. Firstly, I'd like to thank the Welsh Conservatives for bringing forward this important issue to the Chamber and thank all Members who've contributed to today's debate. I've listened carefully to all speakers, and there have been many important points made. The Welsh Government knows that good palliative care can make a huge difference to the quality of life of people facing...
Lynne Neagle: Can I thank Rhianon Passmore for that supplementary question and for raising this very important issue in the Chamber? The Welsh Government is committed to supporting people affected by gambling-related harm, and continues to take an integrated and collaborative approach to gambling policy. We're committed to a public health approach to addressing the harms caused by gambling to protect...
Lynne Neagle: Public Health Wales was commissioned to produce a gambling health needs assessment for Wales, which was published last month. The report highlighted the extent of potential health challenges posed by gambling addiction across Wales, including Islwyn. These include stress, anxiety, substance misuse and, in the most tragic cases, suicide.
Lynne Neagle: We are taking a whole system approach to improve the emotional and mental health of young people. This includes our whole school approach work and the roll out of our CAMHS in-reach service. We are also implementing our NYTH / NEST planning framework which builds a whole system approach to mental health and wellbeing services for babies, children and young people.
Lynne Neagle: Well, Siân, when I came into post, the plans for the unit over the border were already in train, with WHSSC having done a piece of analysis to identify the potential levels of need in north Wales. So, it was on that basis that the decision was taken to have the unit just over the border. And I know that Jane made the point about having these readily accessible services, but they are...
Lynne Neagle: Yes.
Lynne Neagle: We are making significant progress, but we also recognise there is more to do, and we remain committed to improving perinatal mental health services, and this has been a priority area for action within our 'Together for Mental Health' delivery plan 2019-2022. We're now working on the development of the successor to the plan, and I can tell the Chamber that perinatal mental health will...
Lynne Neagle: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I thank Siân Gwenllian for bringing forward this debate today? I know that Siân has a long-standing interest in and commitment to perinatal mental health. I’d also like to thank Jane and Rhun, who’ve contributed to the debate, and to recognise Rhun’s acknowledgement of the role that Steffan played in raising this issue up the agenda in the Senedd. It was...
Lynne Neagle: Thank you, Peredur. I think you saw the Minister give a positive signal there that things are going well in terms of the workforce plan that she's taking forward. We also have a separate workforce plan for mental health, which is being developed by Health Education and Improvement Wales and Social Care Wales. That was launched in November. I'm really pleased that, because of the extra £75...
Lynne Neagle: Thank you very much, Peredur. And can I take this opportunity to place on record my gratitude to the people who work as peer supporters in Wales? They do a phenomenal job. I certainly don't think we could be accused of running drug and alcohol services on the cheap. As you're aware, not only have we protected substance misuse funding in Wales, but we've actually increased the funding, and...
Lynne Neagle: Thank you. You're probably aware, James, that there is a duty to review the mental health Measure. We weren't able to progress that because of the pressures during the pandemic, and the delay in reviewing the mental health Measure was something that was agreed with the Wales Alliance for Mental Health—the third sector bodies that we meet with. So, they were on board with that decision to...
Lynne Neagle: Thank you for that question, James, and it's probably helpful if I clarify that neurodevelopmental services sit with my colleague Julie Morgan, although we do work very closely together as there are, clearly, strong links with mental health services, particularly for children and young people. What I can say is that Julie Morgan has taken decisive action in this area. You'll be aware that...
Lynne Neagle: Yes, I agree with you that having access to data is vitally important. That's why a key priority for us is to make sure that we can progress our core mental health data set, which will supplement the information that we already routinely publish on mental health waiting times.
Lynne Neagle: Firearms licensing remains a reserved matter, and police are the licensing authority for firearms. Doctors support this process by confirming to the police any relevant medical conditions, including around mental health, which need to be taken into account in the issuing of a firearms licence.
Lynne Neagle: Alcohol misuse is also a major health issue affecting individuals, families and communities, and preventing the harm caused by alcohol continues to be a priority for the Government. We are committed to ensuring that our services provide early intervention and prevention, so that longer term harms are prevented before they occur. In 2022 to 2023, we increased our investment in the substance...
Lynne Neagle: Thank you, Deputy Llywydd. Firstly, I'd like to thank the Conservatives for bringing this important issue to the Chamber, and to all Members who've contributed to today's debate. I've listened carefully to all speakers, and there have been many important points made. Liver disease is the third leading cause of premature death in the UK, and regrettably deaths in Wales from chronic liver...
Lynne Neagle: Formally.
Lynne Neagle: We are taking a whole-system approach to protecting children and young people’s mental health. We have invested significantly in mental health support from early intervention to specialist services. We have also introduced statutory guidance to embed mental well-being in schools and we are implementing the Nest/Nyth framework across Wales.
Lynne Neagle: Diolch, Llywydd, and can I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for his contribution and also Jenny Rathbone for her contribution to the debate today? I'm also very happy to give the assurance that I will take what you've said away and do whatever I can to make sure that we aren't in this position again. So, you have my very firm commitment on that. As I've already highlighted, the instrument makes no...
