I’d like to start my comments by saying how glad I am to see Julie Morgan back in the Chamber, and it’s a real privilege to work with her on these issues, particularly the contaminated blood, and to support her lead here on this issue with regard to hepatitis C—a real privilege.

I support the motion because of the work that has been done by the Welsh Government and health boards in Wales, and agree with what Rhun has said and Mark Isherwood has said that we have more work to do. I’d like to give some examples from the Aneurin Bevan health board, which serves my constituency and the area of Gwent, particularly the recognition that they’ve made that it can take decades to identify those people who are suffering from this disease and to treat them. The Aneurin Bevan health board’s hepatology service works with partners in a variety of settings to increase the diagnosis of hepatitis infection and on the phased introduction of new hepatitis C drugs. The Aneurin Bevan health board prison healthcare team have implemented an opt-out blood-borne virus testing policy at reception appointments at HMP Prescoed in Usk. In 2016, they reported to me—I’ve investigated this in preparation for this debate—a significant increase in the number of prisoners tested and the percentage of admissions tested, and there’s been a steady increase in Prescoed.

There’s also been, within the Aneurin Bevan area, targeted action to increase access to needle exchange services and blood-borne virus testing in people who inject drugs—those people at risk who’ve already been mentioned by other Members. Public Health Wales are working with area planning boards on a proposal to develop a five-year costed action plan to increase the investment in needle exchange to ensure 100 per cent coverage, which means that clean needles are used for every injecting occasion.

A key policy development in Gwent has been the pharmacy pick and mix pilot, which provides drug-using paraphernalia and harm reduction literature, together with increased interaction with clients to allow for harm reduction messages and signposting for blood-borne virus testing. The Gwent area planning board commissioned an integrated Gwent drug and alcohol service for adults, which went live in May 2015. This includes the delivery of specialist needle exchange, with a small dedicated budget for the provision of needle exchange paraphernalia. And Aneurin Bevan health board have also reported to me the Gwent specialist substance misuse service for people with more complex needs, and this service also offers needle exchange and BBV testing.

But, also recognised by other Members, one of the major at-risk groups for hepatitis C infection are people of South Asian origin. Aneurin Bevan’s public health team has had discussions with religious leaders about promoting blood-borne virus testing in mosques in Newport. In addition, the ‘Living Well Living Longer’ programme will also be raising awareness of hepatitis C through its programme of health checks in Newport.

These are all examples of what the Aneurin Bevan health board is doing to help with harder-to-reach individuals who are at risk of hepatitis C, and I’d like the Cabinet Secretary to be aware of these practices. The Welsh Government can build on this good practice, and, when it comes to the final point of the motion, consider new operational guidelines to support the NHS in Wales in eradicating hepatitis C. This is something that can be done, and, again, I say it is a privilege to champion the cause that has been pioneered by Julie Morgan in this Chamber. We’ve come a long way, and eradicating hepatitis C is within our reach.