I thank the Welsh Conservatives for tabling this important debate, and I'm pleased to take part. We can't put an end to death and dying, but one of the most important things the state can do is ensure our citizens can die with dignity, without pain and with respect. Unfortunately, end-of-life care in Wales is lacking. Around 33,000 people die in Wales each year, yet one in four of those who could benefit from palliative care are missing out.

As highlighted by the cross-party group on hospices and palliative care in their report, a number of factors contribute to unequal access to palliative care, including geography, care setting, diagnosis, age and ethnic background. Poor awareness of hospices and palliative care contributes to either delays in care or the complete absence of suitable end-of-life care. And this is not good enough. How can we as a nation deny our citizens a good death? We have a duty to the people of Wales to ensure equal access to end-of-life care for everyone.

We have to implement Marie Curie's vision of compassionate Cymru. To be a truly compassionate nation, we must not only up our game on end-of-life care, but we must also tackle loneliness and isolation and support those suffering from grief and bereavement. While the Welsh Government can and must do more, so can we all as a society. We have to end the taboos that surround death. Death and dying should not be talked about in hushed whispers. We have to be open about this natural part of life, and whilst we should all do all that we can to delay the inevitable, we must prepare for the eventuality of passing away.

In Scotland, the Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief campaign have developed support packages aimed at creating a Scotland where everyone knows how to help when someone is dying or grieving. They have toolkits aimed at creating support networks in local communities and creating bereavement-friendly places. That is something we can and should replicate in Wales. Let's work towards creating a Wales where people help each other through the difficult times that come with death, dying and loss. Let's encourage Wales's employers to actively support people with terminal illnesses or those suffering with bereavement.

We have so many hurdles to jump before Wales can truly be classed as a compassionate country. And if we are to make compassionate Cymru a reality rather than a pipe dream, then we have to start by adopting the recommendations outlined in 'Inequalities' in access to hospice and palliative care. We must ensure that everyone has access to high-quality end-of-life care first and foremost, and then ensure we have structures in place to help each other during times of loss and grief, both in the workplace and in the community. And I urge colleagues to support this motion before us today. Diolch yn fawr.