I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this debate and pay tribute to the diversity and dedication of our Welsh NHS workforce that work hard, day in, day out, in the face of many challenges, some of which are acute: a workforce that all too often not only finds itself at the sharp end, but also has the collateral damage of what can feel to them like constant criticism, unfortunately, in public discourse. Unsurprisingly, a lot of the debate today and much of time focuses on the front-line staff that we’re most familiar with—the doctors, the nurses, the paramedics. I’d just like to take a moment to mention the many staff that I’ve had the privilege of working on behalf prior to being elected to this Assembly earlier in the year—the range of those who not only make up the front line but also the backbone of our NHS, and keep it functioning: the clinicians, the scientists, the health visitors, the physiotherapists, the porters, the estate and maintenance staff, and many more—staff for whom the financial pressures faced by the NHS are all-too real but who also recognise the positive—well, most of the time they’re positive, because, like all relationships, it has its ups and downs—partnership working between trade unions and employees of Government in Wales. Whilst I know from my own experience that negotiations might not always deliver everything that is demanded, the door is always open for discussion here in Wales, which is actually, unfortunately, in stark contrast to over the border, where trade union colleagues often see the door firmly shut in their face. It’s not a simple coincidence that industrial action is happening in England while it’s not in Wales. As a result of this relationship, directly employed staff in the NHS are now paid a living wage, and I’m proud to have played just a tiny part in making sure this happened by playing my small part in the partnership discussions and working to make sure not only did this happen, but that there are also better terms and conditions for NHS Wales employees.

Yes, as people have said, there are challenges in the NHS and there are always ways in which we can improve. I know first-hand, as I’m sure many in this room do, and the Minister does himself, that those on the coalface are always only too happy to offer their advice and ideas and, indeed, those on the shop floor, as we say, are often best placed to tell politicians not how it is, but also how it could be done in the future, going forward. Whilst that might not bring us a radical revolution within the NHS, those many incremental ideas could bring about positive change in the future.