Further, a range of common childhood illnesses such as flu, water infections or chest infections can be misleading and can sometimes lead to misdiagnosis, which is why it is so very important that we raise critical awareness of the potential meaning of these symptoms.

I want to make it clear that this campaign, this debate, is not calling for population-wide screening. The Cabinet Secretary has made it clear that this would create concern about a significant number of unnecessary referrals and investigations. Therefore, this call is for screening to take place in every instance that a child or young person presents with the four symptoms that we know are key indicators of type 1 diabetes, the four Ts: tired, thirsty, toilet and having lost weight, being thinner—feeling more tired than usual, being thirsty and not being able to quench that thirst, going to the toilet a lot, bed-wetting by a previously dry child, or heavier nappies in babies, losing weight and looking thin and gaunt, more so than usual.

If a GP believes a child to have type 1 diabetes, then they must refer them immediately and on the same day to their local specialist paediatric team to get immediate treatment and to prevent potentially fatal DKA. We know that testing for diabetes when these symptoms present is very easy, and it is very cost-effective when one considers that we are talking about a child's life. It takes two seconds. A finger-prick test undertaken by a GP every time a child presents with these symptoms allows for the detection of type 1 to take place as early as possible in primary care settings and thereby offers a real potential and a real chance to reduce the instances of undiagnosed type 1 diabetes.

This has been supported in evidence received by the Petitions Committee from Diabetes UK, the children and young people's Wales diabetes network, through representation from Dr Christopher Bidder, whose letter is supported by a number of health boards, as well as the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. The Royal College of Nursing has noted that the four Ts should be asked routinely as part of a history-taking exercise. In principle, there would be no reason why blood glucose testing of children and young people shouldn't be carried out more routinely in primary care settings. Devices are portable, they're inexpensive, and this provides flexibility about where the tests can be carried out. But staff do have to be adequately trained and the resources available to carry out the test—and, obviously, the required follow-ups.

Additionally, Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board has noted that education for primary care health professionals should include raising the awareness of the classic symptoms for type 1 diabetes and prompt on-the-spot finger-prick blood glucose testing for any individual. Clearly, there is much support for this proposal. So, why is it not being taken forward effectively, and why is this concern not being taken seriously?

Despite almost worldwide support for a finger-prick test when children present with these symptoms, and the presence of finger-prick equipment in all GP surgeries, the Royal College of Nursing has noted that currently there are no agreed national standards for primary care education relating to diabetes. In taking evidence in committee, we soon became aware that there do still remain some disparities across health boards in terms of type 1 diabetes pathways for children and young people. In their written submissions, only the Cardiff and Vale, Cwm Taf and the Betsi board specifically mention the pathway by name. Abertawe did not specifically mention a pathway, but noted that GPs were expected to follow National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. Aneurin Bevan stated that they do not have a formal pathway, but noted their expectations for referral to a children's unit for same-day assessment were in line with NICE guidance. Powys noted a limited variation in their diagnosis and referral pathway due to the various NHS providers used in different areas of the health board, and stated that it does not have a policy for point-of-care blood glucose testing in primary care. Hywel Dda did not specifically detail a pathway or even refer to the NICE guidance.

There is some progress: Cardiff and Vale noted that an all-Wales pathway for diagnosis of diabetes in children and young people is in the final stages of preparation. The pathway emphasises point-of-care blood glucose testing in all children where diabetes might be suspected, in accordance with NICE guidelines, yet no mention of the four Ts is made here and this is the critical point here. We still await the outcome of the all-Wales pathway.

Now, I trust that following this debate and, more so, following the massive campaign that this family, Diabetes UK and other organisations, medical—you know, people in the medical sector. They've really emphasised the need that, when children present with the four Ts, a simple glucose blood prick testing would really made the difference. I suppose, really, the reason I'm raising this here today is the frustration that the Cabinet Secretary will not push forward with a drive to ensure that this simple testing can take place in all GP surgeries when children with the four Ts present.

I'd like to finish by quoting Beth Baldwin once more on our aims here, which are immediate, short and long term:

'Sharing Peter’s story and introducing type 1 testing as part of protocol, refreshing GP and primary care awareness, annual e-learning for the dangers of undetected type 1 diabetes, working in partnership with organisations to create awareness campaigns.'

Cabinet Secretary, I urge you to consider this as a matter of vital priority. The cost for such a campaign for routine screening is low and, again, does not compare when we're talking of the life of just one child. It is crucial that we work to prevent the risk of potentially fatal DKA for the 24 per cent of children and young people who are diagnosed late and at a critical, life-threatening stage, with type 1 diabetes. Clearly, here, vigilance and testing can save lives. You have the power and you have the ability to get that message across. Please do it, Cabinet Secretary. Thank you.