Siân Gwenllian: This crisis has brought to the fore a fundamental problem at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor in my constituency. For some weeks, I've been aware that a problem has arisen with the capacity of oxygen flow in Ysbyty Gwynedd and that, in turn, could restrict the ability of the hospital to deal with the COVID crisis. Resolving this is being given priority by the British Oxygen Company, and I'm grateful...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. There was an incident earlier this afternoon when we heard the Minister for health being insulting towards a fellow Member who was asking entirely valid questions in the name of scrutiny and of holding the Government to account. Has the Minister made a request to you to make a statement about that incident and will you look into this to see whether any...
Siân Gwenllian: Today, 15 doctors who are leading health clusters across Wales have sent a robust letter to you, asking for far stricter restrictions in terms of second homes. Will your Government listen to the voices of these clinicians who are calling for a ban on the use of second homes in Wales in order to prevent a second wave of this virus? It’s terrible to think of such a thing after weeks of...
Siân Gwenllian: Move.
Siân Gwenllian: Move.
Siân Gwenllian: May I say first of all that I identify entirely with the comments made by Dawn Bowden? It is hugely important that we do share our concerns and it’s important that we express that emotion that we are bound to feel. That is so important at a time such as this. So, I thank you for sharing some of your concerns with us today, but we will get through this. We will get through this...
Siân Gwenllian: May I turn now to the important questions that do arise? First of all, the new guidance published yesterday stating that people should not travel unless it is to carry out essential work or when it is not possible to work from home. This therefore means that many people working freelance will continue to travel and to work, likewise those in the building profession, mechanics and dozens of...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. The measures announced yesterday are without precedent but are crucial if we are to prevent the further spread of coronavirus. Any steps that will ensure that there is no additional pressure on our health service are to be welcomed in this time of crisis. This is not a national holiday, it is a national crisis, and each and every one of us has a...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you. I just want to return to a couple of things that haven’t been answered. I've asked them already—I’m sorry, I’ve asked you a lot of questions, I know—but I think this is important. What are the guidelines for the schools that have already closed? We know that there is a list of schools that have told parents that they’ve already closed this week. Will they be expected to...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. We are very grateful, of course, to the teachers and the other staff in our schools in this period. They are also key workers and their role is expected to change as they move forward, and we appreciate that great flexibility that is going to be needed now. So, could I ask you about the teachers and the assistant teachers? What will be their role in the new arrangements...
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you very much. Could I also welcome the announcement that you made at 1 o’clock today that schools will close for statutory provision? But, of course, we need clarity urgently and clear guidelines from you for the schools about what the definition will be now of a school—what the role of our schools will be as we move forward. They won't need to do the statutory provision, but they...
Siân Gwenllian: Do you agree with me that the work of the North Wales Community Health Council is a laudable example of why we need this scrutiny to continue? The concern is that, by creating one national body, that local-level scrutiny won’t be able to take place.
Siân Gwenllian: So, what exactly are the guidelines of the Government for schools that are going to be finding themselves in the situation where there is a large percentage of staff—nearly half of the staff, in this case—finding themselves in the vulnerable category? And what is the Government saying to those schools when they find themselves in that situation? And what are the guidelines for safe...
Siân Gwenllian: I want to ask about three areas: two relating to health, but if you will forgive me, one is to do with education, because there is no opportunity to discuss education here this afternoon, and also because a development has reached us in the last half an hour. We’ve become aware that there is a school that has closed its doors already to pupils. Ysgol Brynhyfryd in Ruthin has found that 23...
Siân Gwenllian: Now, it is a very concerning time for everyone, of course, including parents, teachers, pupils and workers in our schools. I am trying to put myself in their shoes here. We know that schools will need to close for the majority of pupils in due course, and that’s inevitable to prevent the spread of the virus. Now, anyone who says differently, I'm sorry, they are burying their heads in the...
Siân Gwenllian: Just on that particular point, we've heard how successful that particular diagnostic hub is. I'm sure you'd agree with me that it would be great to have more of them, especially in north Wales. Will the cancer care plan—will that be looking at that particular aspect as well?
Siân Gwenllian: At a recent meeting of the Children, Young People and Education Committee, a psychiatric consultant and medical director for mental health at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said that it appears that, 'we probably need about four beds of a mother and baby unit' in north Wales. He went on to say that the board was willing to pilot a new model of care. Now, what becomes clear,...
Siân Gwenllian: 1. Will the Minister make a statement on perinatal mental health services for women in Arfon? OAQ55228
Siân Gwenllian: Will you take an intervention, Deputy Minister, or are you out of time?
Siân Gwenllian: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I was just going to make the point that whilst welcoming, of course, the interim mother and baby unit in Tonna, Tonna is four and a half hours away from mothers in the north of Wales. Would you agree that we need a bespoke solution for the problem in the north-west in particular? I think the health board is willing to start discussions around that with a view to...
