I am grateful for the opportunity to speak this afternoon on the findings of this report, produced jointly by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and Care Inspectorate Wales. The findings make grim reading. The report found disparity and variability in the consistency and availability of treatment, care and support provided by community mental health teams across Wales. It makes 23 recommendations over 40 areas to address the current failings in the system.

I would like to address my remarks today to problems facing patients in accessing the services they need. I am concerned that patients are often unable to access the care they need in a timely manner or close to their home. The most recent figures show that just over half of patients were seen within the 28-day referral-to-treatment time target for mental health services. Nearly 6 per cent of patients had to wait longer than six months for treatment. Waiting times for talking therapies also cause concern, with 16 per cent of patients being forced to wait over 28 days for this vital service. One of the significant inequalities and inconsistencies highlighted in the report relates to 24/7 crisis care across the different health authorities. Some health boards, such as Cwm Taf, operate a telephone helpline for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. This service is available 24 hours a day. However, other health boards operate this service for just 12 hours a day, and some of these helplines exist only to support people already known to the service.

There are inconsistencies even within the health boards. Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health board provides a 24-hour service for people in Swansea but only a 12-hour service for residents of Bridgend or Neath Port Talbot. This postcode lottery crisis care cannot continue. It is unfair and unacceptable.

Crisis care for children and young people are equally impacted by significant inequalities. Only three health boards in Wales provide crisis teams for 12 hours a day, seven days a week. In Powys, no services are available on weekends or after 5 p.m. on weekdays. On the subject of services for young people, I have to raise the issue of the lack of beds for young people with high-risk mental health problems. There are only three specialist in-patient units in Wales, with 51 places. Since December, Welsh patients have been removed from Regis Healthcare in Ebbw Vale because of concerns about their safety. As a result, this leaves only 27 beds elsewhere. Healthcare Inspectorate Wales have described the shortage as 'unacceptable'.

Issues also exist at the other two units. Tŷ Llidiard in Bridgend is under restricted criteria for referrals until improvement work is carried out, and the unit in Abergele has recruitment issues. As a result of these shortages, young people are not always able to receive timely care close to where they live and are having to be placed out of the area. Concerns about capacity were first raised by the Welsh Government in 2013, six years ago. It is clear that Welsh Government must, as a matter of urgency, review the demand for these services against the ability and capacity at CAMHS units to ensure that young people can receive the treatment they need. Early diagnosis is very important in mental health, Presiding Officer. If it is diagnosed, either by family practitioners or others, it can be cured early rather than leaving it too late, and, if the treatment comes later, it takes much longer to treat the person for the rest of their life.

Presiding Officer, I hope the Minister will accept the recommendations in this report and act to ensure that people with mental illness receive fair and equitable treatment irrespective of which part of this nation they live in. Thank you.