Thank you for your statement, Cabinet Secretary, and I would also like to place on record my thanks to all the dedicated staff for the way that they've handled pressures this winter.

Spring is just around the corner, but our NHS remains in the depths of a winter crisis, with many operations being cancelled, and therefore we cannot move on. I should rephrase that, because the term 'winter pressures' gives the impression that pressures upon the NHS in winter are unique; unfortunately, they are not. Our NHS is facing spikes in demand year round, often made worse by the backlog created as a result of dealing with winter pressures. The only thing different about the winter months is an increase in respiratory illnesses and perhaps a spike in trips and falls due to snow and ice.

So far, winter 2017-18 has been much milder than 2010-11 and flu rates have been lower, so why, after so much planning and investment, is the NHS struggling more this year? At this stage in 2010-11, consultations for influenza-like illnesses were nearly double what they are today and 86 per cent of patients arriving at A&E were discharged within the four-hour target. Cabinet Secretary, do you believe that the very fact that we had 2,000 more beds and occupancy rates below 85 per cent enabled the NHS to cope better back then?

And also, Cabinet Secretary, although consultation rates for influenza-like illnesses are much lower than in 2010-11, they are still much higher than the seasonal average. So, do you agree that the decision to offer the cheaper trivalent vaccine, which does not protect against the most prevalent B strain, is the biggest contributing factor to the spike in flu cases and will you now opt for the slightly more expensive quadravalent vaccine, which protects against B-Yamagata, or Japanese flu, the most prevalent B strain this winter?

It is clear that we can’t afford to continue approaching seasonal pressures in the same fashion. And while we look forward to your vision for the future of our NHS, this winter has made it abundantly clear: we need radical changes now.

So, Cabinet Secretary our NHS needs better signposting for patients, and while the Choose Well campaign is a step in the right direction, it is still not having the complete desired effect. So, what plans do you have to expand the 111 service to cover the whole of Wales and to act as a gateway to services, signposting patients to the most appropriate resource, whether that’s a pharmacy, a primary care team or A&E?

I was also concerned to hear via a meeting that those training to be GPs—only 30 per cent to 40 per cent have stated that they are willing to work out of hours. This is a great concern to me and to other people.

Finally, Cabinet Secretary, how do you plan to bolster NHS resources so that we aren’t having this exact conversation in three months' time, in six months and again at this time next year? Thank you very much.