Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I speak as Plaid Cymru shadow Secretary for health, but I speak also as a representative of a constituency in the Betsi Cadwaladr region, as do other Members here, and I’m sure I’m speaking on behalf of many of those when I say that communication from constituents, my contact with constituents, show beyond any doubt the strain on that particular health board and the difficulties that health board is having in delivering the services that we expect.

It’s over two years now since Betsi Cadwladr was placed in special measures. We know what we expect when a health board is placed in special measures: we expect improvements. We expect performance to improve. But whilst not for one second doubting the Government’s aspiration to improve performance and managers’ desire to turn the corner, whilst paying the sincerest possible tribute to the staff who work so hard on the front line, there is far too much evidence, I’m afraid, that this is a health board that continues to face terrible problems. That’s not to ignore those things that have been done well within Betsi Cadwaladr, and I’m very grateful to the chief executive for contacting me and other Members yesterday, emphasising those areas where the board is performing well, but mental health workers tell me how difficult it is for them to respond to the needs of the people of north Wales, and that includes child and adolescent mental health. Yesterday, I mentioned a patient who couldn’t get an acute mental health bed and had to be transported overnight to the south-east of England.

Ophthalmic care is clearly under strain according to my inbox. The shortage of GPs is critical. When they’re not extracting teeth, dentists are pulling their hair out because of the strain that they are facing. Orthopaedics continues to be a very grave problem. A consistent flow of patients on waiting lists are coming to see me. They may be waiting for a hip or a knee in order to ensure that they can live vibrant, healthy lives, and it is quite unacceptable that they are told that waiting times for emergency surgery in some cases is 106 weeks. We know from the experiences of last winter when the capacity for orthopaedic surgery was cut—because of winter pressures, so they told us—then the situation has got worse in terms of waiting lists. Waiting over two years for emergency treatment for a new hip is scandalous. There is no other word to describe it.

So, we welcome the motion. We will reject the Labour Party amendment because I’m afraid I am not willing to note the

'significant support provided by the Welsh Government' to the board

'to work to stabilise and recover its position', because that suggests that they are providing sufficient support. That clearly isn’t the case. Support takes a number of forms, of course—not just financial support. I want the board also to have support in terms of a Government that is far more innovative in its attitude to delivery of healthcare in Wales, which is truly pushing the integration agenda in order to enable care and health services to work together for example.

Turning to our own amendments, you’ll not be surprised to see me introducing an amendment that focuses on the workforce and the need to train more professionals for the health workforce. I hope I can rely on the support of all parties. There’s nothing contentious in saying that we will—