Cabinet Secretary, I took note of the comments you made earlier. As you will have attended part of the meeting that took place in Tŷ Hywel last week, you’ll be aware that this is a major problem and is being highlighted by a new charity called MASIC, Mothers with Anal Sphincter Injuries in Childbirth. It was really arresting to hear the testimonials of three women who had suffered really life-changing injuries as a result of third and fourth-degree tears during birth. Their faecal incontinence has required them all to give up their careers—one of them was an accident and emergency nurse and another was a microbiologist—and obviously it’s had a huge impact on everything in their lives.

It is concerning to know that these injuries have increased threefold in the last decade. Overall, it’s estimated that one in 10 women is affected by faecal incontinence, particularly by the time of the menopause. So, the problem’s widespread and it’s only now being talked about. It’s good that we had an earlier question on the subject of incontinence; we don’t often talk about this sort of thing. I have two questions, really. One is: why is physiotherapy not available to all mothers following childbirth? It is routine in places like France. Secondly, why is it that Wales is the only part of England and Wales where mothers cannot have non-invasive sacral nerve stimulation, even though it’s been approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for over 10 years and is a successful treatment for faecal incontinence in three quarters of cases where conservative treatment like physiotherapy has failed?